The Climate Change Bill
I thought that all of you who helped with the Big Ask campaign over the past 2 years would like to see this email from Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns:
[On Tuesday 13 March] the Government published its draft Climate Change Bill. This would not have happened without all the hard work of local groups, staff and volunteers at Friends of the Earth. Others may try to claim the glory – from the Government, to the Tories, to other NGOs – but the glory lies with you my friends!
The Bill, once passed, will transform the way the UK economy is run and set a leadership example for the rest of the World. It will:
Set legal reductions for carbon dioxide emissions for the next few decades, with 5 year targets.
Require annual reports to Parliament.
Set up a statutory advisory group to advise the Government on what sectors of the economy should reduce emissions and by how much.
The Bill is in draft form and we will work hard over the coming year to strengthen it in the following areas:
The Government want to reach a 60 per cent cut by 2050 but we need reductions of at least 80 per cent.
The Government want to set five year targets; we want shorter term targets, ideally year on year.
The Government want an advisory group to advise it, we want it to have real teeth to keep the Government on track.
The Government are excluding international aviation & shipping emissions from the target, we want to include these.
Pat yourself on the back for helping make today happen. Together we’re changing the world for the better.
Mike Childs
The public consultation on the Bill is likely to last for around three months. The Bill will then be debated by the House of Commons and the House of Lords before becoming law - potentially around Summer 2008. The UK will be the first country in the world to put a framework for reducing carbon dioxide emissions into law.
Friends of the Earth will be asking for our help soon to get lots of submissions to the consultation. More details as soon as they are available. Meanwhile, you can find the draft of the Bill here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/index.htm
and the consultation documents here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/climatechange-bill/index.htm