UK prime minister, David Cameron is expected to use the UK’s four minute speech slot to promote shale gas and nuclear energy at the UN Climate Summit being held in New York today.
Cameron is to propose fracking and nuclear as “green technologies” and to refute renewable energy targets according to media reports.
Nina Skorupska, chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association (REA) said: “These four minutes in New York will mark a defining moment in this Prime Minister’s record on climate change and green energy. This is his opportunity to be remembered on the right side of history as a leader who acknowledged the positive role of renewable energy.”
Skorupska also hightlighted the largest climate march in history this weekend was “not a call for relaxed fracking regulations or more nuclear power. The marchers were calling for more renewable energy”.
Skoprupska also repeated government polls showing 79% of the UK public support renewables, opposed to 36% for nuclear and 24% for fracking. “We urge the Prime Minister to use this precious opportunity today to show that he is not out of touch with the overwhelming majority that wants the UK and the world to embrace a renewable future,” she added.
The UK renewable energy industry currently employs over 100,000 people with the potential for up to 400,000 jobs by 2020, and has attracted over £30 billion of private investment since 2010, with a further £64 billion forecasted by 2020.
Hundreds of thousands of people marched across the globe yesterday in climate change action demonstrations, including outside parliament in Westminster, London.
