Benn sets out new Climate Change Bill

Publishing the government's response to the public consultation on the Climate Change Bill, Hilary Benn has said the UK must "step up" its efforts in tackling global warming.

The environment secretary unveiled the government's amendments to the proposed legislation, which include a system of "carbon budgets" and the creation of an independent climate change committee to advise on how to reach the targets.

In its original form, the draft bill imposed a legal duty on the government to cut carbon emissions by at least 60 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050, and by between 26 and 32 per cent by 2020.

However, environmentalists groups have called for this target to be as high as 80 per cent.

The command paper published on Monday said that the responsibilities of the climate change committee would be increased to require the government to seek advice before amending the targets and that it would report on whether these need to be strengthened.

Under the legislation, five-year carbon budgets would be set by the committee of experts and published to improve clarity on how Britain will meet the targets.

And the amendments also include measures to boost ministerial accountability by requiring the government to explain to Parliament if it fails to meet a carbon target or does not accept advice on the budget.

The government will also regularly assess the risks of climate change to the UK and will be required to report to Parliament annually on how it is cutting aviation and shipping emissions.

Benn said: "We need to step up the fight against climate change and we need to do it fast.

"The draft bill we set out earlier this year, and have now refined, is a groundbreaking blueprint for moving the UK towards a low carbon economy. It will bind us to legally enforceable emissions reduction targets at home, while giving us greater clout at the international negotiating table."

He said the "invaluable input" from three parliamentary committees on the draft bill, and from industry and the public, had helped create "stronger, more effective and more transparent" legislation.

"In short, they have helped make a good bill better," the environment secretary said.

He added that the bill would introduce a cap and trade system for large organisations and would give local authorities the power to pilot schemes to reduce levels of household waste and increase recycling rates.
full article