Home > Press releases > Archived press releases > 2004 > Chancellor must act on climate change
12 October 2004
The fight against global warming must be at the heart of next month's pre-Budget statement, Friends of the Earth said today. The call follows today's admission by Environment Minister Elliott Morley that "a great deal more" needs to be done to combat climate change, and follows concerns over soaring levels of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.
Climate change will exacerbate global poverty and undermine the Millennium development goals that the Chancellor is keen to see met. But levels of carbon dioxide are higher now than when Labour came to power.
Actions that the Chancellor should take in the Budget include:
Giving incentives for buying greener cars by increasing VED on gas-guzzlers like 4x4s and reducing it for fuel efficient models;
Standing firm on road fuel duty and bringing in the increase he proposed in the last budget, and using the revenue to provide real transport alternatives;
Increasing Air Passenger Duty, to reflect the environmental damage caused by air travel.
Friends of the Earth's economics coordinator Simon Bullock said
"The Government is right to be alarmed about the impacts of global warming. But UK emissions of greenhouse gases are rising, when they need to be dramatically cut. If the Government is serious about this issue the Chancellor must put the fight against global warming at the heart of his pre-budget statement next month. By taking decisive action in the transport, aviation and domestic sector he can help make it easier and cheaper for people to cut their global warming emissions, and show that the UK really is leading the world in fighting this terrible threat."
Friends of the Earth will publish its blueprint for tackling climate change in the Budget later this month.
For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
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