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Fahnbulleh calls 2030 clean electricity goal a stretch as Burnham backs net zero
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has called the goal of generating at least 95 per cent of UK electricity from clean sources by 2030 a “stretch target”, declining to guarantee it will be met. She said the commitment had built momentum for renewable energy, while the Government remains committed to reaching net zero by 2050.
The remarks came as Prime Minister Burnham addressed the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, where he reaffirmed the 2050 goal and described climate change as a national security threat. The article says he has travelled more than 22,500 miles abroad on taxpayer-funded flights in his first 115 days in office; an estimate puts the associated emissions at about 300 tonnes of CO₂. The Tony Blair Institute has urged ministers to drop the 2030 pledge and prioritise cheaper energy.
In short
- Fahnbulleh called the 2030 clean electricity goal a stretch target.
- The Government still says it is committed to net zero by 2050.
- Burnham’s overseas flights are estimated to have emitted 300 tonnes of CO₂.
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The case for
A 95 per cent clean electricity target could give investors and industry a clear signal to build renewable generation and supporting infrastructure, helping cut emissions and strengthen energy security over time. Keeping the 2030 ambition may sustain momentum towards the legally significant 2050 net zero goal, even if ministers cannot guarantee the exact target will be met.
The case against
A stretch target may risk prioritising speed over affordability and reliability if clean generation and grid infrastructure cannot be delivered quickly enough. Critics argue that dropping the 2030 pledge would let ministers focus on cheaper energy and practical investment, while the Prime Minister’s emissions-intensive travel could undermine confidence in the Government’s climate commitments.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Miliband’s 2030 energy target ‘a stretch’, says his successor, as PM jets in… for climate speech”.