The Government has this month announced the much anticipated Climate Change Bill, which aims to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by the year 2050. The draft legislation will go to public and parliamentary consultation before becoming law next year, and essentially provides the world's first legal framework for moving towards a low-carbon economy. The proposal was welcomed by the opposition parties, but Environment Secretary David Miliband rejected calls for annual targets on reducing emissions.
Under the Bill, carbon "budgets" will be set every five years following independent advice, and the Government will have to report to Parliament on its progress in controlling emissions. Mr Miliband said more focus was needed on cutting carbon emissions from homes, and cited plans to make all new houses carbon neutral by 2016 and encourage the use of energy-efficient light bulbs. "At the moment, domestic buildings account for 25% of the UK emissions. Aviation represents 5%, so although aviation is important it is one fifth as important as the big problem of domestic emissions. In the end the planet doesn't mind whether it's an aviation emission or another emission."
In other climate change news, Europe has reached an ambitious deal with 27 Governments agreeing to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% and commit to generating a fifth of its energy from renewable sources, within 13 years. The two day summit, which ended in Brussels on Friday 9 March, has been hailed by Greenpeace as the biggest decision to fight global warming since the Kyoto Protocol 10 years ago. Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the measures, alongside the proposals outlined in the Climate Change Bill, "Are a set of groundbreaking, bold, ambitious targets, which gives Europe a clear leadership position on this crucial issue facing the world."
