Climate Change Bill Consultation

The government has published a draft bill to tackle climate change and the EAUC wishes to contribute to the consultation process. Please send any contributions to the 4 key questions to [email protected] by 6 June.

Find the Bill at https://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/index.htm. The bill provides a framework for reducing carbon dioxide emissions through four elements given below. Key targets are to achieve a 60% CO2 reduction by 2050, with a further interim target for 2020 of 26-32%.

Setting targets in statute and carbon budgeting

It is intended that the Bill will establish an economically credible emissions reduction pathway to 2050, by putting into statute medium and long-term targets. These targets already exist on a non-statutory basis. In addition, a system of carbon budgeting is proposed. This means that for successive five year periods, starting with the period 2008-12, there will be a limit on total carbon dioxide emissions. The Bill proposes that carbon budget periods be set at least three periods (i.e. for fifteen years) ahead. The series of five year carbon budgets will provide a trajectory from now to 2050, thereby providing a clear framework of expected emissions reductions over time.

Establishing a Committee on Climate Change

The Bill proposes to create a new institutional framework within which to manage the transition to a lower carbon economy, through establishing a new independent body, the “Committee on Climate Change”, to advise Government on how to reduce emissions over time and across the economy. This expert body will advise on the optimum trajectory to 2050 by giving advice on the level of carbon budgets, on how much effort should be made in the UK and overseas and how much effort should be made by sectors of the economy covered by cap and trade schemes and by other sectors.

Creating enabling powers

This part of the Bill proposes new powers to enable Government to introduce new domestic emissions trading schemes through secondary legislation. This increases the policy options which Government could use to reduce emissions and meet the medium and long-term targets in the Bill.

Reporting requirements

It is proposed that the Committee on Climate Change will have a specific annual role in reporting publicly to Parliament on progress towards budgets and targets, with the Government required to lay before Parliament a response to this independent report. The Bill will also allow Parliament to monitor progress of the Government’s proposals and policies for integrating adaptation to climate change into its work.

EAUC would like to receive members’ comments on the main questions government is asking so that we can provide a response. There are 20 areas but the ones we feel are of most relevance are:

1. Is the Government right to set unilaterally a long-term legal target for reducing CO2 emissions through domestic and international action by 60% by 2050 and a further interim legal target for 2020 of 26-32%?
2. Should the UK move to a system of carbon management based upon statutory five-year carbon budgets set in secondary legislation?
3. Do you agree that, in line with the analysis in the Stern Review and with the operation of the Kyoto Protocol and EU ETS, effort purchased by the UK from other countries should be eligible in contributing towards UK emissions reductions, within the limits set under international law?
4. Do you agree that the Committee on Climate Change should be responsible for an independent annual report on the UK’s progress towards its targets which would incorporate reporting on a completed budget period every five years?

Dr Keith Pitcher , EAUC Executive,
Environmental Officer
University of Leeds