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Miliband outlines Climate Change Bill
13th March 2007
The Government's blueprint for tackling climate change was today set out by Environment Secretary David Miliband. The draft Climate Change Bill, the first of its kind in any country, and accompanying strategy, set out a framework for moving the UK to a low-carbon economy.
Key points of the draft bill, published today, include:
- A series of clear targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions - including making the UK's targets for a 60% reduction by 2050 and a 26 to 32% reduction by 2020 legally binding.
- A new system of legally binding five year "carbon budgets", set at least 15 years ahead, to provide clarity on the UK's pathway towards its key targets and increase the certainty that businesses and individuals need to invest in low-carbon technologies.
- A new statutory body, the Committee on Climate Change, to provide independent expert advice and guidance to Government on achieving its targets and staying within its carbon budgets.
- New powers to enable the Government to more easily implement policies to cut emissions.
- A new system of annual open and transparent reporting to Parliament. The Committee on Climate Change will provide an independent progress report to which the Government must respond. This will ensure the Government is held to account every year on its progress towards each five year carbon budget and the 2020 and 2050 targets.
- A requirement for Government to report at least every five years on current and predicted impacts of climate change and on its proposals and policy for adapting to climate change.
The draft bill will be subject to a full public consultation alongside pre-legislative scrutiny in Parliament.
In a wide ranging speech yesterday to the Green Alliance, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown made it clear that the British government is behind the EC’s policy on car CO2 reduction:
“In transport, our reforms to VED have already given motorists a tax incentive to buy fuel efficient cars instead of than inefficient ones. We will champion higher regulatory standards at the European level. And we will ensure our planning and transport systems make alternatives to the car - walking, cycling and public transport - easier and more convenient," said Mr Brown.
The Chancellor said that building on tax changes already made in relation to environmental aims, including VED and company car tax, “We will continue to examine how the fiscal system can properly incentivise environmental behaviour.”
He also confirmed that the Government proposed to increase investment in transport innovation.
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