Climate Change Bill
The Climate Change Bill is coming this year. Find out more about the bill and how you can have your say on the government's plans!
What is it?
The government published its draft Climate Change Bill in March 2007 and they want to know what you think of it! This is your chance to tell ministers that the UK must do its fair share to tackle climate change and that a strong Climate Change Bill can help bring justice to the world's poor.
Why is the Climate Change Bill important?
The UK is the first country in the world to introduce a Climate Change Bill. A strong bill would set an example for the rest of the world to follow. The bill is a great opportunity to take massive steps towards some of our key Climate Changed campaign demands - including seeing the necessary cuts in UK CO2 emissions and ensuring that UK companies disclose their global CO2 emissions.
What does the bill say?
The draft bill sets a long term target for 60 per cent cuts in UK CO2 emissions by 2050 and a series of five year carbon budgets. It also requires the government to report back to parliament on progress every year.
What is Christian Aid calling for?
Christian Aid welcomes the introduction of a Climate Change Bill but believes that several key amendments need to be made if the bill is to be effective in tackling climate change.
At least an 80 per cent cut in the UK's CO2 emissions
Millions of the world's poorest people are already suffering because the climate is changing around them. A 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 is simply not enough. Christian Aid believes that the bill needs to enforce at least an 80 per cent cut by 2050 to play our fair part in keeping global warming below 2°C.
Mandatory standards for UK companies
Christian Aid has recently reported how the worldwide activities of UK companies account for at least 12-15% of global CO2 emissions - but very few companies report clearly on what their emissions are. The bill needs to acknowledge this and provide clear mandatory reporting standards of CO2 emissions by UK companies to improve the situation.
Annual targets
Finallly Christian Aid is concerned that with five year targets the bill provides too much scope for cuts to go off track. The current proposal is longer than the length of an average UK parliament, so any failure to meet the targets could be blamed on the last government. Annual milestones should be in place to monitor progress, make sure cuts are happening as agreed and reflect the urgency of the situation.
Christian Aid will be campaigning on the bill as part of the I Count coalition.
At least an 80 per cent cut in the UK's CO2 emissions
Millions of the world's poorest people are already suffering because the climate is changing around them. A 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 is simply not enough. Christian Aid believes that the bill needs to enforce at least an 80 per cent cut by 2050 to play our fair part in keeping global warming below 2°C.
Mandatory standards for UK companies
Christian Aid has recently reported how the worldwide activities of UK companies account for at least 12-15% of global CO2 emissions - but very few companies report clearly on what their emissions are. The bill needs to acknowledge this and provide clear mandatory reporting standards of CO2 emissions by UK companies to improve the situation.
Annual targets
Finallly Christian Aid is concerned that with five year targets the bill provides too much scope for cuts to go off track. The current proposal is longer than the length of an average UK parliament, so any failure to meet the targets could be blamed on the last government. Annual milestones should be in place to monitor progress, make sure cuts are happening as agreed and reflect the urgency of the situation.
Christian Aid will be campaigning on the bill as part of the I Count coalition.
When will the bill become law?
The government has opened up the draft bill for consultation until 12 June 2007. MPs will then be crucial to our campaign as they debate the bill in the House of Commons in November. Until the Climate Change Bill is finally voted into law in March or April 2008 it is likely to remain a central focus of our campaigning work on climate change.
Have your say
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