Newspaper
Britain takes the lead on climate change
The Government has become the first in the world to enshrine in law its pledge to cut carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. In the draft Climate Change Bill published last month, Environment Secretary David Miliband set out proposals for legally binding “carbon budgets” set at five-year intervals and fixed 15 years ahead. There will also be an interim target of at least a 26 per cent cut in emissions by 2020.
A new statutory body, the Committee on Climate Change, will be created to provide independent expert advice and guidance to the Government and hold it to account every year on its progress towards each five-year carbon budget and the 2020 and 2050 targets.
Miliband said: “With climate change we can’t just close our eyes and cross our fingers. We need to step up our action to tackle it, building on our considerable progress so far. And time isn’t on our side.
“This bill is a critical part of the equation. It will help us to achieve the twin goals of demonstrating leadership through action at home, while also continuing to work towards a strong international agreement post-2012.”
He added: “Government must rightly lead from the front on this, but we want everyone – the public, industry, Parliament – to have their say to help us ensure that the bill really delivers.”
In response, Shadow Environment Secretary Peter Ainsworth commented: “We would like to see a system of rolling annual rate of change targets – rather than targets set for five-year periods – to ensure that the UK remains on track towards a low-carbon economy and to ensure true accountability. There is a danger that the five-year approach will enable responsibility for failure to be shunted on from one Government to another.
“The Government is right to consult over its proposals and to seek a wide range of views before moving to legislation. It is essential to get the framework right, and we look forward to a constructive debate.” Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary Chris Huhne gave the bill a lukewarm reception. He said: “The Climate Change Bill is a step forward because we need a framework to sustain a decades-long march towards a non-fossil fuel economy, but it is too weak in failing to set annual targets.
“The overall target cut of 60 per cent of carbon dioxide by 2050 fails to take account of other greenhouse gases, and it is also at the unambitious end of what the science now suggests is necessary.” Elsewhere, the Welsh Assembly Government has unveiled ambitious plans to address climate change, including achieving zero carbon levels for all new buildings by 2011.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: “Climate change poses a huge challenge for Wales and the world. Warm words and hand-wringing will not solve the problem, but action will. An effective response will require concerted action by government, the private, public and voluntary sectors and active participation from communities and individual citizens. It is not simply an environmental problem; it has profound implications for the economy and the wellbeing of people here in Wales and across the world.”
Environment Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Cutting emissions from buildings is key in our drive to tackle climate change, as buildings account for about half of our emissions.
“We are also opening discussions with the UK Government on the devolution of the Building Regulations, which would allow us to set out a standard framework, including zero carbon, for all buildings, whatever their source of funding, which is tailor-made for Wales. Once these regulations are devolved it will allow us to move further and faster on achieving zero carbon on all new buildings in Wales.”
Further information The draft bill will be subject to a full public consultation alongside pre-legislative scrutiny in Parliament. Responses to the consultation on the draft bill should be sent to: climatechangeconsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk by 12 June Discuss this article
Would you like to read more? To receive your copy of the Landscape Institute's monthly newspaper subscribe today.
