MPA expresses concern about implications for industry of new emissions targets

The MPA is warning that proposals for the accelerated reduction of carbon emissions made in the fourth report of the Climate Change Committee and accepted by government are in danger of reducing the competitiveness of energy intensive industries in the UK.

Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive MPA, commented, "The UK minerals products industry, including cement and industrial lime, has achieved very significant reductions in carbon emissions in recent years and is committed to doing more. We are also ensuring that the construction industry is made aware of the long term efficiencies in energy use and emissions, which can be realised through the effective use of concrete in building design.”

MPA believes that the work of the Climate Change Committee in recommending carbon budgets and reductions is critical, but in implementing those recommendations the government must not take risks with the competitiveness of UK industry.

Nigel Jackson said, “We welcome the government’s statement recognising the competitive sensitivity of UK energy intensive industries operating in increasingly competitive international markets and the promise of measures to reduce the impact of government policy on the cost of electricity for those industries.

“The potential application of rapidly escalating carbon costs to industries such as cement and lime carries an inevitable risk of driving industry to lower cost locations overseas and of replacing highly regulated UK production with imports. At a time when we are looking at subdued levels of economic growth in the foreseeable future we need to promote and support UK manufacturing, such as mineral products, and be extremely cautious about the imposition of costs which disadvantage UK businesses.

“We want to work with government and our customers to ensure that our minerals products industry continues to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to sustainable development in the UK. This requires an approach to carbon which is consistent with other countries, reasonable and proportionate and seeks to take advantage of emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage in the UK.”

MPA is urging the government to engage fully with energy intensive industries as a matter of urgency to examine the increasing and cumulative energy and carbon cost burden and to develop significant mitigation measures. The Association also believes it is essential that the government reviews the growing impact of government-imposed energy costs on less energy intensive sectors and SMEs.

Nigel Jackson added, “There is no economic or environmental benefit to be gained if in the long term we simply replace domestic production and emissions with imports whose emissions are recorded elsewhere but still add to the global total."

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/20052011/mpa_expresses_concern_about_new_emissions_targets/