Mid term review Jan 2013 Coalition and Energy/Climate Change

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20969435

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Original coalition agreement pledges:

• Push for increase in EU emissions reduction target to 30% by 2020
• Generate more energy from renewable sources
• Invest in carbon capture and storage
• Found green investment bank
• Encourage marine energy, and energy from waste through anaerobic digestion
• Block third runway at Heathrow, and expansion of Gatwick and Stansted
• Improve home energy efficiency

What coalition says it's achieved:

• £3bn allocated to new green investment bank
• Energy derived from renewables increasing
• £1bn investment in carbon capture and storage

Where it accepts it has missed targets:

• The pledge to cut EU emissions by 30% by 2020 has been dropped in favour of getting the EU "back on track" to cutting energy consumption by 20% by 2020
• A planned rise in the renewable energy target has been abandoned
• A commitment to replace air passenger duty with a per-flight tax was axed amid fears about "legality and feasibility"
• "Green financial products" were to have enabled individuals to invest in green infrastructure, but seem to have been severely limited in scope

Labour's verdict on coalition so far:

• Solar power industry hit by changes to feed-in tariffs
• Investment in renewables has halved

Coalition's mid-term 'to do' list:

• Treble support to low-carbon energy up to 2020
• Invest in gas-fired power and carbon capture and storage projects
• Encourage the exploitation of shale gas
• Clarify rules on tax relief available for North Sea oil and gas decommissioning
• Support investment in renewable energy
• Encourage private-sector investment in nuclear power stations
• Introduce smart meters
• Encourage energy efficiency via the "Green Deal"
• Continue to support the Green Investment Bank.
• Promote electric cars

BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath says: The coalition has tried to square the circle between their need to keep the lights on and their legal commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Thanks to their Energy Bill, people will need to pay more to fund clean power. But they've also signalled a greater reliance on natural gas and have lifted a temporary ban on fracking for shale gas. For critics, this move has undermined claims to be the "greenest government ever".