The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Leadsom urged to act on emissions
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has been urged to ramp up efforts to achieve the net-zero carbon emissions target to tackle the climate crisis.
Rachel Reeves, chairwoman of the business, energy and industrial strategy committee, wrote to Ms Leadsom calling on her to apply pressure to encourage the spread of electric vehicles and greater energy efficiency.
The Labour MP also called on the minister to press the Treasury to look at the financial benefits of hitting the target by 2050.
Ms Reeves said it was clear the new business secretary “will need to hit the ground running” and “act quickly to ramp up efforts on the policies and actions crucial to tackling climate change and capitalising on the opportunities of a low-carbon economy”.
“The secretary of state should also seek to overcome Treasury resistance and ensure her colleague at No 11 examines the potential benefits as well as the costs of the transition to net zero,” she added.
“The government should also overcome its ideological opposition to onshore wind – the cheapest form of electricity generation in the UK.”