LABOUR GOING BACKWARDS ON KYOTO - POTTS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 31st Mar 2005

New statistics, released today reveal that carbon dioxide emissions in the UK have increased by 3% under Labour since 1997. Worse still with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the last year, it appears we have started to move backwards on Kyoto.

Commenting, Sam Potts said:

"The increase in carbon emissions and greenhouse gases shows the failure of Labour's strategy for tackling climate change.

"The latest figures mean we have little hope now of reaching the 20% reduction target for 2010 and that we may actually miss our targets under the Kyoto protocol. The problem is that none of Labour's policies actually inspire any confidence that these trends will be reversed, as all the indicators on energy and transport are going in the wrong direction.

"Tony Blair must now come forward with policies to secure significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Liberal Democrats' real alternative on the environment would see action on tackling emissions from traffic, aviation and energy use."

ENDS