Ed Davey

The UK government has urged MPs to support the Energy Bill, ahead of a debate over the legislation, which will kick off in Parliament on Tuesday.

Members of the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, along with the Labour opposition, are expected to oppose the bill, saying that they want to impose a target to largely eliminate carbon emissions from power generation by 2030.

But UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said the Energy Bill being considered now will make a huge reduction to carbon emissions.

In an emailed statement to the department, obtained by Bloomberg, Davey said: "The energy bill will lead to a massive decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030, and will enable the UK to cut its economy-wide emissions by 50% by 2030."

Conservative MP Tim Yeo and Labour MP Barry Gardiner tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill earlier in 2013 that would require the British government to introduce a decarbonisation target for the power sector by April 2014.

"The energy bill will lead to a massive decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030, and will enable the UK to cut its economy-wide emissions by 50% by 2030."

Several reports suggest that over 50 organisations have urged MPs to support the Energy Bill, which intends to stimulate £110bn in investment to cut carbon emissions.

The organisations said: "We are united in the belief that a low-carbon power sector is essential to secure the future wellbeing of our economy represents a major opportunity to put the UK firmly on track to becoming a world leading low-carbon economy, boost employment and show genuine leadership in the fight against dangerous climate change."

CBI chief policy director Katja Hall said: "The Energy Bill remains the best instrument for Government to give investors the certainty they need to plough billions of pounds into keeping UK lights on, through an affordable low-carbon economy.

"We can’t afford further delays, so it is essential there’s political agreement and the Bill is on the statute book this year," Hall added.

"The government will need to make sure that households and businesses most vulnerable to increased energy prices are adequately protected."

Image: UK energy secretary Ed Davey said the energy bill will lead to the massive decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030. Photo: Courtesy of GOV.UK.

Energy