Government unveils draft Climate Change Bill

4.07.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 14th Mar 2007

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The Government has today unveiled its draft Climate Change Bill, which plans to set a "legally binding" target to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. It also calls for investment in low-carbon fuels and technologies, "carbon budgets" to be set every five years and for ministers to give annual progress reports on cutting emissions. However it rejects proposals for annual targets to be set. The full Climate Change Bill is to be published in the autumn.

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Chris Huhne MP said "The Bill is a step forward because we need a framework to sustain a decades-long march towards a non-fossil fuel economy, but it is too weak in failing to set annual targets. The overall target cut of 60 per cent of carbon dioxide by 2050 fails to take account of other greenhouse gases, and it is also at the unambitious end of what the science now suggests is necessary. Moreover targets must not become a substitute for serious proposals to cut carbon emissions. Sadly the government has been cutting the green taxes necessary to help shape our behaviour, while the Tories have failed to put forward a single firm proposal. Only the Liberal Democrats have suggested fairer, greener but not higher taxes."