The Committee on Climate Change instead favours a Government approach on meeting current 2020 targets, rather than raising them it said today (September 10).

Its chief executive, David Kennedy, wants to see the Government press on with its efforts to ‘ensure’ the share of renewable energy is increased from current low levels to 15% by 2020.

The committee said the 15% target for 2020 should ‘neither be reduced nor increased’ and the current ambition is ‘desirable’ in that it would make an appropriate contribution towards meeting carbon budgets.

On average in the UK only 3% of the energy we use in the UK comes from renewable sources, according to the committee.

Mr Kennedy said: “Ensuring more of the energy we use is from renewable sources is vital for meeting carbon budgets.

“The current target is desirable, but there are significant risks around achieving it, we do not see any merit in raising this target further.

“Instead, Government should focus its efforts on meeting the current target, in particular by providing the right incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy projects in the UK.”

Secretary of state for energy and climate change, Chris Huhne, had asked the committee for the advise earlier this year.

To read the letter click here it was officially released today (September 10).

Luke Walsh

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