Government pledges to cut carbon emissions by half by 2025

The Government today announced it had accepted the advice of its climate advisers for “ambitious” cuts in emissions by 50 per cent based on 1990 levels.

Adopting the recommendation by the Committee on Climate Change for the fourth “carbon budget”, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said the decision would be reviewed in 2014 to ensure the targets were in line with the European Union’s.

The decision to agree to the targets set out by the Committee on Climate Change is part of a long term effort to meet legally binding emissions cuts of 80 per cent by 2050.

Prime Minister David Cameron told the Commons Liaison Committee: “Britain is now leading the world in setting out how we are going to get to a 50 per cent reduction in emissions over the years ahead.”

Asked about reports that he had personally had to step in and overrule objections from Business Secretary Vince Cable to the new regime, Mr Cameron said that the agreement on the climate change budget was reached between Mr Cable, Mr Huhne and Chancellor George Osborne at the Cabinet’s Economic Affairs Committee.

Labour welcomed the announcement but Shadow Energy Secretary Meg Hillier warned of a general “go-slow” approach.

“We know it’s been a rocky week for the honourable gentleman as his colleague the Business Secretary (Vince Cable) sought a very different decision on this issue.

Read more: special report climate change

She added: “He talked about us being, as a country, on track to meet the first three carbon budgets. I would say that I don’t think this is really thanks to the current Government.

“Because on the issue of green progress, we’ve seen a very much ‘go slow’ from the right honourable gentleman.”

Mr Huhne said Labour had failed to capitalise on renewable energy sources, pointing out the UK was 25th out of 27 European Union member states when it came to renewable energy.

He told Ms Hillier: “That is not a record of which the party can be proud.”

And he claimed today’s budget was backed by the whole Cabinet “with unanimity.”

Friends of the Earth Executive Director Andy Atkins welcomed the decision but warned: “The inclusion of a get-out clause, in case Europe doesn’t cut emissions fast enough, creates needless uncertainty that could dent business confidence – and all just to save face for the Chancellor and Business Secretary, who opposed this agreement.”