UK is first nation to publish climate change bill

Britain on Friday became the world's first country to publish a landmark climate change legislation setting out legally binding targets to tackle climate change for the next 50 years.

The unique climate change bill sets out a framework that will put Britain on the path to become a low-carbon economy, with clear legally binding targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050, and 26 to 32 per cent by 2020, against 1990 levels, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told the House of Commons.

"This bill is a landmark in environmental legislation and will set us firmly on the path to the low-carbon economy we know is fundamental to our future. We need to provide the framework that will give government businesses and individuals a clear idea of how we're going to tackle climate change," he said.

Benn said Britain needed to show the world that it was taking a decisive action within the country's own borders, particularly ahead of crucial talks in Bali in December where it plans to launch formal negotiations on a comprehensive future climate deal that involves every major country.

"This bill shows the world that we're serious, and that we're not asking other countries, and in particular poorer countries, to do what we're not willing to do ourselves. This is vital to our ambition to get a future deal agreed by the
end of 2009," he said.

As well as advising on carbon budgets, the Committee on Climate Change, proposed in the bill, will be charged with investigating whether the 2050 target needs to be strengthened further, as well as reporting on the impacts of including emissions from international aviation or shipping in the UK's targets.

A new system of legally binding five year "carbon budgets", set at least 15 years ahead, will be introduced to provide clarity on the "optimum pathway" towards the country's key targets and increase the confidence and certainty for business planning and investment in technology needed to move towards a low-carbon economy.

The committee will provide an independent progress report to which the government must respond, ensuring the administration is held to account every year on its progress towards each five year carbon budget and the 2020 and 2050 targets.