Failure at Copenhagen is inevitable and the UK Government must start looking at cutting carbon emissions as if it were at war, according to a report published by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (iMech) on Friday, November 13.

The report also says that the target of an 80% emissions reduction by 2050, as outlined in the Climate Change Act, is unachievable without a radical overhaul of tactics and more political support.

At the heart of the institution’s advice is the recommendation to adopt a broad strategy looking at Mitigation, Adaptation and Geo-Engineering (MAG).

It also calls for a new government department for energy and climate security with the sole role of designing and implementing such a strategy.

Tim Fox, who is head of environment and climate change at IMechE said: “Even with our best intentions, the UK will not reach its 2050 emissions target until 2100 or beyond unless we radically rethink the way in which we approach climate change policy.

“This review is brave in its ambitions but as engineers we believe it is achievable.

“MAG is possible and whilst the Institution does applaud wholeheartedly the efforts of the UK Government for creating such an Act, it is without sanction and has no penalty for failure.”

A pdf of the full report Climate change: Have We Lost the Battle? can be found here.

Sam Bond

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