Recycle food waste to hit climate change targets, say advisers He pointed out that much of the infrastructure, for example building wind farms, putting in place charging facilities for electric cars and changing waste collections, needs to start now. Although the first carbon budget has been comfortably achieved and the second is likely to be achieved, this is largely due to the impact of the economic downturn. However, there are significant risks that progress will not be sustained, particularly as regards insulation and investment in renewable power generation. The Government is legally obliged to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 under the Climate Change Act, with "carbon budgets" setting out specific targets along the way. However a number of flagship measures from the "Greenest Government ever" seem to be stalling. Mr Kennedy said there is a "high degree of uncertainty for investors" as MPs continue to bicker over the Energy Bill, currently going through the House of Commons. He said energy companies need to know how much subsidy renewable power will receive. The CCC also repeated its call for a new target for the power sector to slash emissions by 2030, to give investors confidence to invest in low-carbon energy such as renewables and nuclear. Mr Kennedy admitted it would cost householders £100 more on their bill by 2020 to pay for the switch to renewable energy but insisted it would cut costs in the long term as the prices for fossil fuels rise and pressure to tackle climate change. Mr Kennedy also said the Green Deal needs to work to cut carbon emissions. The flagship policy aims to insulate 14 million homes by 2020 by offering loans up to £10,000. But at the moment it looks like take-up of the loans for making homes more energy efficient has been slow, with figures due out later this week expected to show that no more than a few hundred households have expressed an interest in the scheme. Mr Kennedy pointed out that it was "higher risk" to depend on households to take up a loan, rather than give a subsidy, and the Government may have to offer more incentives. Building regulations should be tightened to ensure homes are "zero-carbon" from 2016. Other measures that need to progress include ensuring appliances are energy efficient by improving labelling and information awareness. New cars should use less energy and drivers should be taught how to drive in a more efficient way as part of the test. Mr Kennedy said the Government should consider banning food waste from landfill, as this generates the greenhouse gas methane. This means more households would have to collect food in slop buckets to be collect separately. Mr Kennedy warned failure to act would leave the UK uncompetitive as the US, China and other countries move forward with renewables and energy efficient measures. Government action is required over the next two years to develop and implement new policies. A failure to do this would raise the costs and risks associated with moving to a low-carbon economy," he warned.