By Nina Chestney
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain needs to invest more in low-carbon technologies to reach its goal of cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, a climate advisory body to the government said Monday.
The UK aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels to help fight climate change.
As part of this goal, low-carbon technologies will be vital to generate cleaner forms of electricity for electric vehicles, heating and delivering energy-efficient buildings, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said in a report.
"Without government support, a range of essential low-carbon technologies are likely to get stuck in a so-called 'valley of death', where development is curtailed, and will fail to make it to market," it said in the report.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said on Friday it was reducing its low-carbon expenditure by 34 million pounds ($52.15 million) as part of a savings program across government departments to reduce the public deficit.
DECC said it would spend over 150 million pounds on low- carbon technology this year.
"It is unfortunate there has been that cut. It is a move in the wrong direction but it is specific to this year. Our focus is not the short-term but what happens in October in the (government's) comprehensive spending review," David Kennedy, chief executive of the CCC, said at a briefing in London.
The CCC estimates total government funding for low-carbon development during 2009-2010 amounts to 550 million pounds, which is the minimum amount needed to avoid missing the UK's carbon budgets and opportunities to build a greener economy.
Up to five times more public support for energy research, development and deployment (RD&D) is needed, Kennedy added.
LAGGING BEHIND
Britain's spending on energy RD&D as a percentage of gross domestic product lags behind other developed countries.
"By international standards our spending is very low here. The U.S. spends three times as much as we do relative to GDP on low-carbon innovation," Kennedy told the BBC's Radio Four early Monday.
To support the development of technology, the UK needs to focus on developing and deploying offshore wind, wave and tidal power, carbon capture and storage (CCS) including gas, smart grids and meters, electric vehicles and aviation.
"The UK should also deploy nuclear power, advanced insulation technologies, CCS for industry and heat pumps," the committee said in the report.
It should also be investing in the research and development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, third generation solar photovoltaic technology, electricity storage and advanced bio-fuel technology.
Currently, the funding which supports low-carbon innovation is complex and difficult for business to navigate. The government needs to strengthen the framework to ensure public money is well spent, the CCC added.
(Editing by Jane Baird)
