Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion today joined with European Greens in  highlighting the lack of ambition in EU carbon emissions targets.

Commenting on the EC’s clean energy package announced today, Caroline Lucas said:

“The EU is showing a disappointing lack of ambition.  We should be aiming for a 60% carbon reduction target by 2030 at the very minimum, with a target of 45% of our energy from renewable sources.  

“As the EC’s own research shows, moving to renewable energy means lower costs for industry and less fossil fuel imports.  It would also be great for UK jobs – a binding target would be great news for the future of community-owned renewable energy projects like the Brighton Energy Co-Op.

“Meanwhile, we’ve had the spectacle of our own Prime Minister working with Poland against the regulation of shale gas extraction.  It’s sad that nstead of listening to the mounting evidence of the environmental benefits and economic opportunities offered by renewables, he’s chosen to be cheerleader in chief for the fracking industry.”