Mr Benn dresses up Climate Bill

Environment Minister Hilary Benn put the Climate Change Bill before Parliament on Thursday 15 November 2007, making the UK the first country to set itself such targets as a legal requirement rather than a simple aspiration. While the Bill does not set out annual targets, something environmental groups have lobbied for, it does lay down a target to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050 and a more flexible 26% - 32% by 2020.

Mr Benn commented, "This Bill is a landmark in environmental legislation and will set us firmly on the path to the low-carbon economy we know is fundamental to our future. We need to provide the framework that will give Government, businesses and individuals a clear idea of how we're going to tackle climate change."

As well as the headline figures on carbon targets, the Bill will include:

• a new system of legally binding five year carbon budgets;
• a new statutory body, the Committee on Climate Change, to provide independent advice and guidance;
• a new system of annual reporting to Parliament;
• a requirement for the Government to report at least every five years on current and predicted impacts on climate change and their proposals;
• powers to introduce new trading schemes through secondary legislation and a new cap and trade scheme for large organisations.

The Bill remains on course to become law by May 2008.