Background and programme

A draft Climate Change Bill was first presented to the Commons in 2005 as a private members bill. As a result of pressure from areas such as the “Big Ask” campaign spearheaded by Friends of the Earth sufficient support was gained from MP’s for the introduction of a Public Bill.

The Bill was first announced in the Queens Speech in November 2005 and the consultation draft published in March 2007. The consultation ran to June 2007.

To monitor progress of the Bill and who says what, click on the parliamentary link below:
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/climatechangehl.html

What is the Climate Change Bill?

Below is an extract from a Government statement accompanying the Bill:

The debate on climate change has shifted from whether we need to act to how much we need to do by when, and the economic implications of doing so. The time is therefore right for the introduction of a strong legal framework in the UK for tackling climate change. The draft Climate Change Bill is the first of its kind in any country. The Bill is intended to introduce a clear, credible, long-term framework for the UK to achieve its goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and ensure steps are taken towards adapting to the impacts of climate change (source: DEFRA)
In summary the Bill as drafted:

• makes legally binding CO2 reduction targets (against a 1990 baseline) for 2020 of 26-32% and for 2050 of 60% ;
• introduces 5 year carbon budgets, the first covering 2008-12 and with three successive budgets always being in legislation;
• creates a new independent Committee on Climate Change to advise on the setting of carbon budgets and to report to Parliament annually on progress;
• contains enabling powers to allow future carbon trading schemes to be introduced through secondary legislation; and
• introduces a new system requiring the  Government to formally lay before Parliament a response to the annual Committee report.

BUT…it doesn’t do enough for Portsmouth

Why are we concerned?

In simple terms the proposed CO2 reduction targets appear to sanction Portsmouth being under water by the next century.

This is because the target of 60% is based on an outdated assumption that by 2050 an upper limit of 550ppmv (that’s greenhouse gas concentration) would limit the global average temperature rise to 2°C . This figure of 550ppmv was government thinking back in 2000! The recent work of the IPCC tells us that a limit of 450ppmv or lower is more appropriate.

The well respected Tyndall Centre has recently published a briefing note on the Bill. This estimates that the Climate Bill proposed target of 60% implies 600-750ppmv as an upper limit and that this translates to a 4-5°C global average temperature rise. Such a level of warming would be catastrophic and the resultant ice melt would lead to sea rises of several metres putting Portsea Island firmly under water. You can find more information on Portsmouth and Flooding here.

We believe that the targets for UK CO2 reductions should be at least 30% for 2030 and at least 80% for 2050.

That’s our major concern but we also have others:

• The proposed targets ignore emissions from aviation and shipping. This is ludicrous and to quote Friends of the Earth “is rather like having a calorie-controlled diet that opts to exclude calories from chocolate”.
• The 5 year budget system must be robust enough to bind successive governments and thus prevent “election year fallout”
• The independent committee must be truly so and have teeth. Too many independent committees in the past have been hand-picked by the government of the day to suit their political ends or those of influential businesses with deep pockets
• We are concerned that any carbon trading must be very tightly regulated to ensure that globally emissions are truly reducing. The recent problems with the European Carbon Trading scheme illustrates why we must be cautious

What the Parliamentary Select Committee had to say in July 2007

The cross-party Commons Environmental Audit Committee, chaired by Tim Yeo, issued its report on 30 July 2007. The report highlighted that the Government has been overly optimistic with regard to emissions reductions in the past. It warned that the UK needs to be more ambitious in it's future CO2 reduction targets for 2020/2050 and more joined up in it's policies (e.g. airport expansion...) if action on climate change is to be effective. Below is a link to the conclusions/recommendations section, which is well worth reading. From there you can also access the whole report and the submissions from interested parties.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmenvaud/460/46007.htm

So what amendments have Lords Teverson and Redesdale tabled?

If you are keen you can read the whole Bill and tabled amendments and compare you can click on the link below:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/climatechangehl.html

Or…in brief the principle amendments tabled aim to achieve the following:

• Increase the 2050 emissions reduction target from 60% to 80%
• Increase the 2020 emissions reduction target from 26/32% to 40%
• Increase frequency of the rolling target budget periods from 5yrs to 3yrs and introduce an annual sub-target
• Include Aviation and Shipping
• Reduce the Government’s ability to try and juggle with the Base Date to cook the books
• Shift responsibility for compliance from the Secretary of State to the Prime Minister
• Require the measures to apply 6mths from the Act receiving Royal Assent rather than “as soon as reasonably practicable”

We are pleased with the amendments tabled but it is early days and there will be much debate and negotiation over the coming months.

Want to have your say on this?

Well you can write to your local MP and MEP expressing your concerns and wishes.