Lewes MP Norman Baker appeared on the floor of the Commons yesterday to call for a unified government approach to tackling climate change.
Lib Dem Norman Baker pointed out to Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband that while the Department for Energy and Climate Change have targeted an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, the Department for Transport have pushed ahead with their plans for Heathrow expansion.
This is despite increasing opposition to the proposals, and the fact that emissions from the transport sector have risen steadily since 1990.
Norman Baker told the Commons:
"The Secretary of State has made the courageous and correct decision to set a target of 80% for carbon reduction emissions by 2050.
"Unfortunately, however, if aviation is to return its emissions to their current levels by that date, all other sectors will be required to make an 89% cut to cater for it.
"Given that fact, given the entirely unnecessary expansion of Heathrow, and given that transport is the only sector in which carbon emissions have increased since 1990, is it not time that the Secretary of State had a word with the Secretary of State for Transport and told him to stop derailing his climate change strategy?"
Norman Baker added:
"It is crucial that each part of our government pulls in the same direction, yet it seems that some departments take the pressing issue of climate change more seriously than others.
"If the Department for Transport is allowed to bulldoze through with their proposal for expanded airports, our chances of reaching the targets we have rightly set look increasingly slim.
"The government must wake up and realise what a serious mistake Heathrow expansion would be, and adopt a more cohesive approach in the fight against climate change."
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