Labour plan U-turn on European renewable energy promise

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Oct 2007

Labour is planning a U-turn on Britain's pledges to combat climate change that slashes its target of 20% of renewables by 2020. Leaked documents show that ministers are complaining that the target that Tony Blair signed up to this year is expensive and faces 'severe practical difficulties'. Dunvant Lib Dem councillor and Assembly spokesperson for Gower Nick Tregoning commented:

"Labour must not go back on the ambitious targets recently set by European leaders. It is only by aiming high that we can make real progress in tackling climate change. The promise was clearly made by David Miliband, and it is dishonest to suggest that the 20% target agreed at the Brussels summit should not apply to Britain. Every member state has to do their bit. Ministers must not be allowed to wriggle out of these firm commitments.

"There are major projects that can, together with micro-generation, deliver increases in renewable energy. Only serious targets will concentrate minds enough to ensure rapid progress.

"If Labour is fully committed to the 20% target for Britain, why did Gordon Brown's own energy minister go on television and say he wanted it cut from 20% to 10%, under pressure from the nuclear lobby?

"Much is rightly made of the fact that Wales is one of the few countries in the world to have a commitment to sustainability enshrined in its constitution. That is why Labour and their Plaid helpers in Cardiff must put pressure upon their allies in Westminster to stick to the commitments they have made."