ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have warned that Britain is failing to hit its pollution reduction targets because of a move back to coal-burning by the electricity industry.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) said that coal produces twice as much greenhouse gas, such as carbon dioxide, as natural gas.

However, the power industry says it is working hard to remain within pollution limits, despite the move away from gas as an electricity generator.

According to FoE, the latest Government figures, for 2004, showed that UK carbon dioxide emissions were worse than at any time since Labour came to power, apart from 2001, when a very cold winter meant a lot of electricity was used.

Germana Canzi, FoE climate campaigner, said a key reason was that electricity producers had returned to coal after a number of years favouring gas.

Mrs Canzi said coal fell out of favour during the Conservative years, when British mining was devastated by pit closures and strikes.

She said electricity producers were encouraged to switch to gas because the Conservatives did not want to see a resurgence of the mining industry.

However, Mrs Canzi said: "There has been a trend back towards burning coal in power stations. We do not blame the businesses, their job is to make a profit, but we do feel the Government needs to ensure that there is a framework that makes burning coal too expensive."

She said a Government initiative to make companies pay for the right to create high levels of pollution had not been tough enough.

However, David Porter, chief executive of the Electricity Producers' Association, said the system worked.

He confirmed that more companies were returning to coal, but said that the industry had routinely been switching between coal and gas for a long time. About 40 per cent of UK electricity needs are met by natural gas, while coal accounts for 35 per cent.

Mr Porter said the scheme allowing companies which exceeded carbon dioxide emission limits to buy credits from those who stayed below them, was proving to be a deterrent.

He said: "The market is volatile and carbon credits can be expensive. Part of the companies' commercial objective is to stay within their allowances for emissions of carbon dioxide.

"It is true that over a long period of time there has been a trend back to coal, but this is not a plot by the companies to evade their environmental limits. They are aware of the cap to which they must adhere."

FoE says the UK is a long way from meeting Labour's promise to reduce carbon dioxide levels by 20 per cent of 1990 levels by 2010, but that the country can meet its targets without resorting to new nuclear power stations.

Head of campaigns Mike Childs said: "Tackling global warming must be a central plank of all the Government's policies.

"Ministers must stop tinkering at the margins and come forward with sustainable solutions that cut emissions and make it cheaper and easier for people to live greener lives."

The North-East is already at the forefront of exploring alternative energy sources and the New and Renewable Energy Centre, in Blyth, Northumberland, is experimenting with technologies that include harnessing wind and tidal energy.

Published: 28/02/2006