Today’s announcement will make it harder for renewable technology companies to attract investment at exactly the time that they need it most. Two recent UN reports delivered a clear message that we must invest in renewable energy now to avert the worst effects of climate change.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion said:

“These policies show the Tories in their true colours.  Far from aspiring to be "the greenest government ever", it's now clearer than ever that the Conservatives stand for the backward looking fossil fuel energies of the past.

“The tragedy is that by turning their backs on the cheapest form of renewable energy, on shore wind, which will soon undercut the price of gas, the Tories are also turning their backs on hundreds of thousands of green jobs, and the chance to position the UK in the forefront of the renewable energy revolution.

“The renewable energy industry is exactly the kind of industry that government should be supporting and investing in. It will provide long-term sustainable jobs and build the infrastucture for a low-carbon future.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report ⁽¹⁾ warned that greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels were rising faster than ever and highlighted that we can still avoid the worst impacts of climate change but only by urgently switching to renewable energy, reducing energy demand and phasing out our use of fossil fuels.

An earlier IPCC report concluded that climate change is already happening and examined the impacts of climate change such as storms, droughts and flooding as well as the risks of inaction on health, food security and water supplies.

Climate scientists agree that delaying action to cut carbon emissions is dangerous and will increase the costs of tackling climate change significantly. Experts are clear that around 80 per cent of unexploited fossil fuels will have to remain in the ground to avoid catastrophic climate change ⁽²⁾.

Caroline Lucas said that the way forward was being shown by initiatives like REPOWER Balcombe, a new community cooperative set up by local residents with the aim to generate the equivalent of 100% of the village’s electricity usage from clean, renewable energy sources.

Notes to editors

Contact:  Mike Eames on 07590 050 565 mike.eames@greenparty.org.uk

1. IPCC reports are available at: http://www.ipcc.ch
2. Carbon Tracker is at: http://www.carbontracker.org/carbonbubble
3. Link to latest public opinion : http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2014/britons-favour-onshore-wind-over-fracking-by-three-to-one
4. Caroline Lucas MP’s Early Day Motion calling for moratorium on fracking is at: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/181