Reducing carbon emissions: legislation
proposed
Summary
This is consultation document
‘Draft
Climate Change Bill’ (Cm 7040) presents the draft text of the Climate
Change Bill, draft explanatory notes and regulatory impact assessment for
pre-legislative scrutiny and public consultation.
The Bill will
introduce a long-term framework for the UK to achieve its goals of reducing
carbon dioxide emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The
consultation document discusses the context and rationale behind the Climate
Change Bill and sets out the main reasons why legislation in this area is
required.
Key elements of the Bill include:
- Setting targets
in statute and carbon budgeting, with a statutory goal of a 60 per cent
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions through domestic and international action
by 2050, based on a new system of "carbon budgets" set at least fifteen years
ahead (with reviews at five yearly intervals), and with progress reported
annually to Parliament
- Establishing an independent Committee on Climate
Change to advise the government on how to reduce carbon emissions over time and
across the economy
- Creating enabling powers to allow the introduction
of new domestic emissions trading schemes through secondary legislation
- Reporting requirements will enhance the overall transparency and
accountability of UK action on climate change, with the Committee on Climate
Change reporting annually to Parliament on progress towards budgets and
targets, with the Government required to produce a response to this independent
report.
Found this story interesting?
Spread the
news by clicking below to add it to your bookmarking service:
Law-Making Explained
This is a Command Paper
(Cm. 7040 2006-07): it is a Report from the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Find
out more about Command Papers.