Leaked documents suggest that Ministers are planning a U-turn on Britain's pledges to combat climate change that "effectively  abolishes" its targets to rapidly expand the use of renewable energy  sources such as wind and solar power (i). Greens say this will impact badly on moves to support more renewable energy locally.

John Hutton, the Secretary of State for business, is expected to tell the Prime Minster that Britain should work with Poland and other governments sceptical about climate change to "help persuade" German chancellor Angela Merkel and others to set lower renewable targets, before binding commitments are framed in December. He will say that the current target of 20 per cent of all European energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 is, expensive and faces "severe practical difficulties".

Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas,who is also the Green Euro - MP for the South East, said: "The Government has failed to show any real commitment on targets set by the EU, so the contents of these leaked papers sadly come as no surprise. Current government policies in support of renewable energy are confusing, piecemeal and inadequate, and now seem to be in complete disarray."

Cllr Philip Booth, a spokesperson for Stroud District Green party said; "This makes it harder to push for renewables locally - it is bad news for Gloucestershire and indeed the planet. This consistent failure of political will to substantially increase investment in renewable energy is shameful, particularly at a time when scientists are reporting that CO2 are accumulating in the atmosphere far more quickly than predicted."

Philip Booth added: "It is an extraordinary argument to object to the renewable target on the grounds that it could undermine the EU's carbon trading scheme - it would seem the Government has forgotten that the primary aim of emissions trading is to reduce emissions! The UK has a real opportunity to lead the way in the development of  alternative sources of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, yet the Government is still trying to push more dirty, dangerous and expensive nuclear power instead."

Dr Lucas added: "Radical reforms are urgently needed to the way renewable energy technology development is supported in the UK. Government grants are derisory and the private sector currently invests just £250m a year in renewable energy technology when to significantly boost this   industry we need to see more like £2.5 billion going into new projects. Capital grant schemes, such as the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which has been massively oversubscribed despite being under-promoted, need a proper level of funding. The UK’s record is derisory compared   to much more rapid investment in other countries including Germany, Denmark and Japan."

The Green Party believes that seriously tackling climate change requires a radical policy shift at the heart of government.  We would:

- Replace the Renewables Obligation by phasing in “Feed in Tariffs”  
- a simple framework of guaranteed prices for exported renewable   energy. 'Feed-in tariffs' have been a runaway success in Germany and   other countries, stimulating both large- and small-scale projects and   kick-starting a profitable industry that supports many thousands of   jobs.
- Apply a resources tax to fossil fuels to expand funding for energy conservation and renewables
- Expand the capital grants scheme for renewables
- Introduce a low-cost loan scheme for individuals and businesses
- Create a more favourable planning policy framework for renewable  energy

In this way we would massively invest in renewables, creating thousands of jobs and allowing us to switch from carbon-based to a  renewables economy.

Notes for Editors:

(i) The Guardian newspaper article about the leaked documents can be read at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/23/renewableenergy.energy