The case for green fuels in the UK
Recent months have brought extreme weather to Britain, flooding thousands of homes and paralysing our transport system.
Extreme weather is no longer simply a natural event. The world's top climate scientists have confirmed that the changes we are experiencing are caused by human activities, chiefly the burning of fossil fuels. Pollution from petrol and diesel is the fastest growing cause of climate change. Breaking the link between transport and oil is vital to address the serious threat of climate change.
In November 2000, Gordon Brown promised "major" tax reductions for the most promising green fuels in the March 2001 Budget, to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Greenpeace warned that by looking only at cutting tax rates on existing fuels, the Government risked overlooking the most promising long-term alternatives, in which significant public expenditure is also needed.
