16 May 2006
Nuclear power, renewable energy and energy efficiency are "back on the agenda with a vengeance", the PM told the CBI tonight.
Speaking at the annual dinner to business leaders, Mr Blair addressed a number of long-term challenges facing Britain.
The wide-ranging speech covered the economy, education and skills, the NHS, science, pensions, regulation, the World Trade Organisation and the EU.
But it was on the future of energy policy where he delivered a stark warning.
Speaking one day after he saw the "first cut" of the upcoming Energy Review, the Prime Minister said:
"The facts are stark.
"By 2025, if current policy is unchanged, there will be a dramatic gap on our targets to reduce CO2 emissions; we will become heavily dependent on gas; and at the same time move from being 80/90%, self-reliant in gas to 80/90% dependent on foreign imports, mostly from the Middle East and Africa and Russia."
He continued:
"If we don’t take these long-term decisions now, we will be committing a serious dereliction of our duty to the future of this country."
Yesterday the DTI’s energy team presented an update on the Energy Review to the PM and other members of the Cabinet in No10.
You can see some of the key findings presented to the PM here:
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