Carbon Increase Blows Hole In Government Green Plans - Baker

New statistics, released without prior warning by DEFRA at 5pm yesterday, show that carbon dioxide emissions in the UK increased by 2.2% in 2003.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Norman Baker MP said:

"The threat of a hosepipe ban is symptomatic of the extreme weather events that will become ever more commonplace due to climate change. Yet the increase in carbon emissions, sneaked out yesterday, blows a hole through the Government's climate change strategy.

"The latest figures mean we have little hope now of reaching the 20% reduction target for 2010 and that we may even miss our targets under the Kyoto protocol. The Prime Minister must now come forward with policies to secure significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

"Under Liberal Democrat plans announced today, we would take positive action to tackle climate change and push for new international agreements."