New green deal will dramatically reduce emissions

New green deal agreements set to be announced by government ministers this week are expected to drastically reduce emissions.

Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne is expected on Tuesday (May 17th) to commit the UK to cutting carbon emissions by 50 per cent, compared with 1990 levels, by 2025.

Environmentalists are reported to be cautiously optimistic about the legally binding vow to reduce emissions in the fourth carbon budget.

Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth, said that the deal would "breathe new life into Mr Cameron's pledge to lead the greenest government ever".

However, businesses across the UK are concerned that the dramatic reduction will have a detrimental effect on the economy.

EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler said that committing to "ploughing a lone furrow" without international agreement will damage the British economy without providing much tangible environmental benefit.

He went on to say that there is little appetite for higher green targets in the current climate of uncertainty.