Government announces plans to tackle climate change

The government has announced a £40 million plan to tackle climate change, including plans to capture gases from power plants and store them in depleted North Sea oil and gas fields.

The plans, announced by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, are part of a package for emerging low-carbon technologies designed to stimulate demonstration projects for cleaner electricity generation from coal and gas, as well as for hydrogen and fuel cells.

The government said that carbon capture and storage could be up and running within a decade.

The plans have been announced ahead of next month’s G8 summit at Gleneagles, where Prime Minister Tony Blair will make climate change one of his priority topics.

Announcing the new carbon abatement technology, Mr Wicks said: “Reaching our ambitious target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 means action now to support emerging technologies that will enable us to burn coal and gas more cleanly. At the same time, with major expansion of coal fired power generation expected in China and India, we want to put the UK at the forefront of what could be a valuable new export opportunity."

Mr Wicks said that the government had closely consulted with industry and found that the long-term benefits of capture and storage could reduce emissions from power plants by up to 85%. The Minister added: “We must, of course, maintain the push toward renewables and energy efficiency that deliver cuts in emissions here and now. But cleaning up our use of fossil fuels, developing the vast potential of hydrogen and fuel cells, and keeping UK industry on the front foot is a vital long term objective.”

Commenting on the new plans, Environment Minister Elliot Morley said: “Tackling climate change is a key priority for the government – and it is an issue we are addressing on many fronts. Developing carbon abatement technology can help us reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions. This is essential because the use of fossil fuels is expected to grow, notably in developing nations. And that’s why the issue of new technology will be an important feature of next month’s G8 summit.”

(KMcA/MB)