Hounslow and national CO2 emissions demand urgent action

3.33.07pm GMT Sat 28th Jan 2006

Lib Dem MPs like Andrew Stunell, pictured here with a wind turbine, supported the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill

New Government statistics reveal that carbon dioxide emissions in the UK have increased by 0.5 % last year and that we have gone into reverse gear with regards our Kyoto commitments. There has been an overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions of 2.9% since the Labour Government came to power in 1997. Hounslow Borough ranks as the 7th worst of 33 London Boroughs for its C02 emissions.

Commenting, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, Andrew Dakers said:

"This increase in carbon emissions reveals that the Government is in reverse gear when it comes to tackling climate change.

"It is becoming clear that we not only have little hope of reaching our domestic 20% reduction target for 2010 but that we may even miss our Kyoto target.

"Hounslow ranks as the local authority with 7th highest for CO2 emissions overall out of 33 London boroughs. Emissions total 10.2 Kilotons per thousand people. Looking at domestic emissions alone Hounslow ranks 20th out of 33. These were 2.5 Kilotons per thousand people.

"The Liberal Democrats' alternative to secure energy supply and significantly reduce carbon emissions would focus on energy efficiency, reducing demand, carbon capture and storage, microgeneration and the development of a range of clean renewable energies."

Related Links:

National data (2004 data - released Jan 06)

Local data (2003 data - released Oct 05)

Cross-party agreement on Climate Change