Minister Vince Cable has voiced concern that the competitiveness of British industry could be harmed Three government departments have opposed a policy for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, the BBC has learned.
Ministers have until now heeded the recommendations of the independent watchdog which advises them on how far such emissions should be cut.
However, the transport and business departments and the Treasury now oppose the Committee on Climate Change’s new “carbon budget”.
It had recommended that the UK should halve emissions between 1990 and 2025.
This, it says, is necessary for the country to achieve its legally binding targets on carbon.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne agrees, but BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin understands that the Treasury and the Department for Transport want to block the plan.
And a letter from Business Secretary Vince Cable, leaked to BBC News, said that accepting the carbon budget risked endangering the competitiveness of British industry.
In a letter to Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Chancellor George Osborne, seen by the Guardian newspaper, Mr Cable says he is “unable to give clearance to the proposal as it stands” and calls for an urgent cabinet meeting.
Mr Cable is reported to have written: “Agreeing too aggressive a level risks burdening the UK economy, which would be detrimental to UK, undermining the UK’s competitiveness and our attractiveness as a place to do business.
“I have a number of concerns about supporting the CCC’s (Committee on Climate Change) recommended level at this time.
“It is important that we strike the right balance between our pursuit to decarbonise the UK economy whilst ensuring that UK economic growth and employment is sustained.”
The proposed carbon budget is supported though in another leaked letter from Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Mr Hague said the UK should be focusing its business on low carbon growth.
Our analyst says the row is likely to come to a head at a cabinet meeting on Monday.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.