Government failing to meet targets in a 'spectacular fashion' - Huhne

8.02.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 15th May 2006

Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP

Responding to the publication of the first year results of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said "The Government has failed to its carbon dioxide limits in a spectacular fashion. We have overshot our allocation by more than any other EU member state".

"The Government has become far too complacent about climate change, and has failed to use levers, such as green taxation, which can deliver less pollution. Green taxes have been falling as a share of the economy since 2000, and are now lower than they were under the last Tory government.

"The undershoot in other EU member states shows that many targets are not ambitious enough. The Government should press the Commission to tighten targets where they are too lax."