Sign up to E-News
Government: ‘in turmoil over coal’
31 March 2008
The World Development Movement calls on Gordon Brown to take charge of John Hutton’s rogue coals plans and launch a coal power strategy review to consider the climate impact of going back to dirty coal.
This is after energy giant E.ON said a decision on its plans to build Britain's first coal-fired power station since 1984 should not be made until later in the year.
The company proposed that a decision on whether to approve the application at Kingsnorth in Kent should wait until the government had finished its consultation into carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Benedict Southworth, director of the World Development Movement said:
“John Hutton must now freeze his support for new coal power, including Kingsnorth in Kent. If he irresponsibly pushes his plans forward, he will entrench the deep cabinet divide over reverting to coal energy. He will also lock the UK into the most polluting form of energy, which would be a disaster.
“Gordon Brown must take charge of his divided cabinet and heal the growing rift between his government departments. The only sensible course of action now is to call a coal power review that will consider the climate impact of going back to dirty coal.
“And Brown must remember that this is not only a decision that will affect the UK, but will have huge consequences for the world’s poor who will be hit first and worst by climate change.”
The World Development Movement will be demonstrating outside BERR’s offices tomorrow (1 April) from 8am calling on John Hutton to abandon his reputation as a ‘fossil fool’.
Ends
For more information or comment, please call
Kate Blagojevic
Press officer, World Development Movement
0207 820 4900/4913, 07711 875 345, Email:
Digg
del.icio.us
stumbleupon
Print this page
