TURN DOWN THE HEATING, BRITAIN
Radical bid to lead the world by making UK greenest nation
BRITONS must turn the heating down at home if the country is to beat climate change, an official report warned yesterday.
Homeowners should set thermostats to no higher than 19C (66F), as well as ditch gas boilers, eat 20 per cent less meat and shun air travel, it said.
Last night the Government backed the radical plans drawn up by the influential Committee on Climate Change, saying it would legislate to make Britain the first major world economy to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2050.
It is a dramatic rise on the current target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent in 2050 as compared to 1990 levels.
The stark report warns the planet faces devastating heatwaves, melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels if average temperatures rise by 3-4C by the year 2100. Currently, temperatures are on course to rise by at least 3C and have increased by 1C since the start of the Industrial Revolution, it said.
As well as outlining measures the Government could take, the report listed instructions for households to follow, including:
Eat 20 per cent less red meat and dairy;
Heat homes at no more than 19C (66F), against the current average of 20-21C (68-70F) in UK households;
Plant enough forest to cover an area the size of Yorkshire, or 5 per cent of the UK’s surface area – up to 3billion new trees.
Ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030 instead of 2040.
The Paris Agreement commits the UK to limiting temperature rises to below 2C.
But the report said the report said cutting emissions to zero is ‘achievable with known technologies alongside improvements in people’s lives’. Committee chairman Lord Deben added: ‘We’re not asking people to lead a miserable life. But to do it in a way in which we take responsibility for the future.’
The report said the changes will not cost more than existing plans – around 1-2 per cent of Britain’s GDP. But critics blasted the plans as ‘economic suicide’. Christopher Snowdon, of the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, said: ‘Climate change is a global problem that will not be stopped by the UK committing economic suicide.
‘Although the committee is somewhat coy about what is required, it seems to involve shutting down large parts of industry and agriculture. This will make us reliant on imports from countries which have not shot themselves in the foot with similar targets.’
Parliament will now have to vote to enshrine the ‘net zero’ target in law. If accepted, it means all policies must be consistent with the target. Business Secretary Greg Clark said: ‘This report now sets us on a path to become the first major economy to legislate to end our contribution to global warming entirely.’
Politicians last night waved through a motion by Jeremy Corbyn to declare an environmental and climate emergency. MPs approved the non-binding motion after he called on the Commons to recognise the ‘devastating impact’ of extreme weather.