United Kingdom Climate Change Bill

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Global carbon dioxide emissions 1800–2000

Countries by carbon dioxide emissions (blue the highest)

The Climate Change Bill, published on 13 March 2007, is a draft law aimed at moving the United Kingdom to a low-carbon economy. The key component of the legislation would be to require a mandatory 60% cut in the UK's carbon emissions by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels), with an intermediate target of between 26% and 32% by 2020.^[1] If approved, the UK will become the first country to set such a long-range and significant carbon reduction target into law.^[2]

To maintain progress, a national "carbon budget" would be set every five years, and government ministers would be required to provide a progress report each year. An independent Committee on Climate Change (or "Carbon Committee") would be created to provide advice. The Bill would also give ministers power to introduce the emissions reduction measured necessary to achieve the goals without the need for further legislation.

The bill was introduced as a result of cross-party pressure, led by environmental groups.^[3]^[4]

1 Carbon emissions target
2 Legislative progress
- 2.1 Earlier bills
3 Political parties
4 Environmental groups
5 Business
6 See also
7 External links
- 7.1 In the media
8 References

[edit] Carbon emissions target

The target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% has been a Government ambition for some years. The 60% figure was adopted based on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, made in their June 2000 report Energy - The Changing Environment.^[5] If adopted by other countries too, a 60% cut by 2050 was thought likely to limit atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to no more than 550 parts per million which, it was generally thought at the time, would probably prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 2°C (3.6°F) and so avoid the most serious consequences of global warming. The Royal Commission went on to say that there should be an 80% cut by 2100, and that the 550 ppm upper limit should be 'kept under review'.^[6] They restated the importance of this in January 2006.^[7]

The Royal Commission's figures were based on a June 1996 decision of the EU Council of Ministers to limit emissions to 550 ppm, contained in their Community Strategy on Climate Change.^[8] This, in turn, was based on the 1995 IPCC Second Assessment Report, which first mentioned the 550 ppm - 2°C connection.

A scientific assessment at the 2005 international Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change conference, held in Exeter under the UK presidency of the G8,^[9] concluded that at the level of 550 ppm it was likely that 2°C would be exceeded, based on the projections of more recent climate models. Stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations at 450 ppm would only result in a 50% likelihood of limiting global warming to 2°C, and that it would be necessary to achieve stabilisation below 400 ppm to give a relatively high certainty of not exceeding 2°C.^[10]

Based on the current rate of increase - averaging about 2 ppm per year^[11] - greenhouse gas concentrations are likely to reach to reach 400 ppm by 2016, 450 ppm by 2041, and 550 ppm by around 2091. It is because of this that environmental organisations and some political parties have criticised the 60% target as being insufficiently ambitious, and why they are demanding greater cuts, as mentioned below.

[edit] Legislative progress

Shortly after the 2005 general election, 412 of the 646 Members of Parliament signed an early day motion calling for a Climate Change Bill to be introduced, to include a requirement for 3% annual cuts in carbon emissions.^[12] Only three other early day motions had ever been signed by more than 400 MPs.^[13]

The Labour Government announced the introduction of a Climate Change Bill in the Queen's Speech, on 15 November 2006.^[14] The draft Bill was published on 13 March 2007, but proposed five year 'carbon budgets' rather than the annual targets many had called for. The Government believe that varying weather conditions make annual targets impractical.^[15] The publication is to be followed by a period of public consultation that ends on 12 June 2007.^[16] It is expected that the full version of the Climate Change Bill will be published in the autumn of 2007.

[edit] Earlier bills

The current Climate Change Bill was preceded by another Climate Change Bill,^[17] drafted by Friends of the Earth and introduced into the house as a Private Member's Bill on 7 April 2005. Although it received widespread support^[18] the Bill was unable to make process as Parliament was dissolved soon after, ahead of the 2005 general election.

[edit] Political parties

The opposition Conservative Party support the concept of a bill, and proposed their own variation ahead of the Government's.^[19] One of the key differences is that they are demanding annual carbon targets,^[20] and that the Committee on Climate Change should have an enhanced role, setting targets as well as advising governments.^[21]

The Liberal Democrats take a similar stance to the Conservatives, and are also of the opinion that setting targets every five years is an abdication of responsibility, because a government typically remains in power for only four years.^[22] They have also stated that the proposed 60% cut by 2050 may not be sufficient, and that "we may well need to aim more towards about 80%".^[23]

A stronger response was provided by the Green Party of England and Wales. They consider that legislation provides a 'massive opportunity', but that the draft Bill is 'dangerously unambitious'. Among their demands are annual targets and an overall emission cut of 90% by 2050.^[24]

Among the other political parties whose views are known, the concept of a Climate Change Bill is supported in principle by the Scottish National Party^[25] and the Democratic Unionist Party.^[26] Respect are in favour of a 90% cut in carbon emissions by 2050, but have not expressed a view on a bill.^[27] Plaid Cymru have proposed 3% year-on-year carbon cuts for Wales in their latest policy statements.^[28]

In contrast, the United Kingdom Independence Party believe that the Bill is only necessary because of a failure to devise a viable plan for alternative sources of energy to replace fossil fuels. They consider that the Bill is 'deeply misguided', likely to cripple the economy and that it will destroy investment in alternative technologies. Instead they believe that the Government and Opposition 'need to be looking into proper alternatives like nuclear power', and that plans to invest in wind power and solar power, as well as cutting carbon emissions by 60%, were 'unachievable and unnecessary'.^[29]

[edit] Environmental groups

Friends of the Earth's Big Ask Campaign was one of the major factors that forced the government to include the Climate Change Bill in their legislative programme.^[30] The organisation is demanding that the Bill should include legally binding targets for a reduction of at least 3% a year, amounting a total cut of around 80% by 2050. They consider that a 60% cut in carbon emissions by 2050 is no longer a sufficient contribution from developed countries to the international action on climate change.^[31]

The UK arm of the World Wide Fund for Nature supports the draft Bill, but has called for carbon budgets to be made every three years, and that the 2050 target for carbon emissions reduction should be raised to 75%.^[32]

The other 50 or so environmental, international development and other organisations belonging to the Stop Climate Chaos coalition backed the Big Ask Campaign and share similar views. The coalition itself criticised the Government for failing to acknowledge the 'global warming danger threshold' of 2º Celsius. Taking this into account, they believe that the 2020 target should be a minimum of 30%, with an 80% target for 2050. They also consider that the Bill should include annual 3% reduction targets, cover aviation and shipping within its scope, and ban the purchase of carbon credits from overseas, a practice which they believe exports the emissions problem elsewhere.^[33]

[edit] Business

The Confederation of British Industry, which has created its own climate change task force, welcomed the proposed Bill, stating that it combined two vital elements, long-term clarity on policy direction and flexibility in its delivery.^[34] Support for the Bill was also given by the Trades Union Congress.^[35]