It would appear that the UK is likely to put forward legislation within three months to cut carbon emissions in the fight against global warming. Environmentalists have suggested that the much anticipated Climate Change Bill is expected to go to Parliament in November 2007 and could become law by May 2008, after scrutiny and public consultation on the preliminary draft of the legislation ended this month.
Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Mike Childs commented, "We expect it after the Queen's Speech in November and to go into committee in December. Because it has already been through pre-legislative scrutiny it could go quite quickly through the Parliamentary process and even become law in the Spring."
The draft Bill states that carbon dioxide emissions must be cut by at least 60% from 1990 levels by 2050 - and half that by 2020 - with five year rolling carbon budgets and an independent committee to monitor progress. Environmentalists have however demanded annual cut targets and the final ceiling to be raised from 60 to 80%. Three Parliamentary committee reports have largely echoed these suggestions and the Government is currently considering the reports and public responses to the draft before publishing the final Bill.
When published, the Climate Change Act will make the UK the first major country to set binding legal limits on its greenhouse gas output.
