UK climate watchdog urges dramatic cuts in greenhouse gases

Dramatic new targets to reduce the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by at least one-fifth from today's levels in just over a decade were proposed this week by the government's Climate Change Committee.

The recommendation, will mean big increases in renewable energy, home insulation and electric and hybrid cars and vans. Green energy would produce 30% of the UK's electricity by 2020 and 40% of new cars would be low emissions by 2020. Changes in public behaviour were also needed, such as better driving to reduce fuel use and eating less "carbon-intensive" meat like beef, said the committee.

The report further recommends tough new rules to make coal plants fit equipment to capture and store their carbon emissions as soon as the early 2020s, which would push up operating costs and might slow government plans for up to eight new plants until the technology has been proven.

The main policy options identified for the reduction of household emissions were supplier obligation, EPCs, appliance standards and renewable heat measures.

The climate change secretary Ed Miliband referred to the forthcoming energy and heat consultation as being initiated "early in the new year."

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