Christian Aid welcomes the UK government’s surprise decision to rule out new unabated coal-fired power stations. Now we need to keep the pressure up by emailing our MPs.
On 23 April the government ruled out new unabated coal-fired power stations. From now, all coal-fuelled stations must use new emissions-reducing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology by 2025.
It's a real step forward, and one which energy secretary Ed Miliband says you helped earn.
Now we need to make sure the government does its groundwork so that it truly ‘cleans up’ Britain's power supply.
The government’s plan is not backed up by a robust strategy. As we say in our joint letter published in the Guardian, 'a policy framework to deliver this outcome has not yet been announced.'
Without this, Britain will struggle to meet the targets in its Climate Change Act.
We need you to write to your MPs, asking that they support Charles Kennedy’s private members bill proposing an emissions performance standard (EPS).
This would cap emissions, including those from power generation, and make the development of workable CCS imperative.
Carbon capture and storage?
It’s where carbon emissions are stopped from entering the atmosphere, and are instead stored and buried deep underground.
In theory, CCS could be revolutionary. But while Christian Aid is excited about the possible impact of workable carbon capture, such technologies remain unproven.
The government says it is committed to testing CCS – although it doesn’t yet have a plan B in case it fails.
Furthermore, we are concerned that it plans to capture only 25% of emissions from four CCS demonstration plants – and pump the outstanding 75% into the air as normal.
And amid all the excitement about at CCS, we cannot neglect renewable energy and energy efficiency, both of which are long-term, sustainable ways of ensuring people have the energy they need.
Act now
The government's announcement represents an advance in UK power policy that ‘could only have happened with public support,’ according to a letter the energy secretary has written to our supporters. Read Ed Miliband's letter.
In it, the energy secretary thanks Christian Aid supporters for speaking out.
‘You made it possible,’ he adds.
There is still plenty to do to fully clean up Britain’s power policy.
In the first instance, we need our MPs to support moves already afoot to introduce a strong EPS – and maintain our commitment to helping seal a fair deal for poor countries at this December’s UN climate summit in Copenhagen.
Email your MP now
Useful links
Our campaign Countdown to Copenhagen
Joint letter Miliband must end coal emissions