UK's Benn says govt will strengthen Climate Change Bill |
|
|
|
Published
:
Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:01
|
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The UK government will strengthen its draft Climate Change Bill to make it more effective, and look at the possibility of extending its targets for cutting greenhouse gases, said Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.Unveiling planned amendments to the draft bill, Benn said he would be asking the new Committee on Climate Change to look at whether carbon emissions could be cut even further.The committee will be independent from the government, having its own chief executive and staff, and ministers will be required to seek its advice before amending the 2020 and 2050 targets in the bill.In its original form, the draft bill imposed a legal duty on the government to cut carbon emissions by at least 60 pct on 1990 levels by 2050, and by between 26 and 32 pct by 2020.The new targets will be based on a new system of 'carbon budgets' set at least 15 years ahead, Benn said.The committee will also be asked to investigate the implications of including other greenhouse gases and emissions from international aviation and shipping in the UK's targets.'We need to step up the fight against climate change and we need to do it fast,' he said.Benn also confirmed that the bill will be used to introduce the Carbon Reduction Commitment - a new cap and trade scheme for large organisations not already covered by other schemes.His pledge comes on the same day as the Environmental Audit Committee called for the appointment of a cross-departmental climate change minister.TFN.newsdesk@thomson.comfp/rwCOPYRIGHTCopyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Print this Story
Al Gore and UN climate change panel win Nobel Peace Prize UPDATE 