Government introduces Climate Change Bill with legally binding carbon limits
Tue 13 March 2007
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Britain is set to become the first country in the world to set legally binding limits on carbon emissions. The draft Climate Change Bill which was presented to Parliament this month, calls for an independent Carbon Committee to set five-yearly carbon emissions 'budgets' for the UK with the ultimate aim of reducing emissions by 60% by 2050. Failure to reach the targets could mean legal action against the Government.
The draft Bill does not stipulate how the cuts should be made, or give specific reduction targets for individual businesses, councils and households. Despite pressure from environmental groups and opposition parties, the Bill does not set annual targets for carbon emissions. The Government says annual targets are too likely to be prone to short term fluctuations in the economy, weather patterns or other temporary factors.
The Goverment has also announced a consultation about the Bill to give interested parties the opportunity to contribute their opinions at an early stage of policy development (see adjacent link).
The opposition Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have welcomed the proposals, despite their preference for annual targets.
The BBC reported that the Environment Secretary, David Miliband, said there were "big decisions" to be made on issues such as using nuclear power.
The Government's plans include:
Targets to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, from 1990 levels, and between 26% and 32% by 2020
Greater energy efficiency, with more consumers becoming "producers" of their own energy at home
Investment in low-carbon fuels and technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, wind, wave and solar power
Carbon "budgets" - which cap emissions levels - set every five years
An annual report by Government to Parliament on its progress in controlling emissions
Future policies to control emissions would also be made "quicker and easier" to introduce.
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