Climate change and energy bills get royal assent

26 Nov 2008

Two groundbreaking pieces of legislation that will radically cut UK greenhouse gas emissions have been approved by Parliament. Both the Climate Change Bill [1] and the Energy Bill [2] will receive Royal assent and become law tomorrow (Thursday Nov 27th).

Friends of the Earth led the campaign for a climate change law. The new legislation, which will oblige the UK to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, is the first of its kind anywhere in the world - and should put Britain at the forefront of international efforts to tackle climate change.

The environmental campaign group also led the campaign, along with the Renewable Energy Association, for the Energy Bill to include a feed-in tariff. This will give a financial incentive to homes, businesses and communities to install small-scale renewable energy systems, such as solar panels and water turbines.

Friends of the Earth Cymru's Director, Gordon James said:

"The Climate Change Bill is a world class piece of legislation that will make the UK an international leader in tackling climate change.

"This new law is a tremendous success for Friends of the Earth, and for the many thousands of people and organisations across the UK that joined the campaign for a climate change law. This shows that people really can make a political difference.

"The call for a climate change law had tremendous support in Wales, with thousands of people contacting their MPs. The campaign was boosted by support from Welsh celebrities such as Cerys Matthews, Goldie Lookin Chain, Huw Stephens and Gruff Rhys.

"The governments in Cardiff and London must now rapidly develop a low-carbon economy - investing in green energy and cutting energy waste will also create exciting new business opportunities, many thousands of jobs and help lead Britain out of recession.

"Wales' renewable energy potential from wind, water, the sun and some energy crops is enormous. The inclusion of a feed-in tariff in the Energy Bill will hopefully encourage homes, businesses and communities to install green energy systems and play a key role in cutting emissions. The UK Government must ensure that payments are high enough to make this happen."

The UK Committee on Climate Change [3] is due to publish its recommendation for the first three climate change 'budgets' - each lasting five years - on 1 December. These are interim targets to ensure that the 2050 target is kept on track.

NOTES

1. Climate Change Bill
The Climate Change Act will require the UK to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent (based on 1990 levels) by 2050.
A series of five year interim 'targets' will also be set - which will take the UK's share of international aviation and shipping emissions into account and ensure that the target is kept on track. The Committee on Climate Change is due to recommend the first five year 'budget' periods on 1 December 2008 (see note3).

The campaign for this historic and groundbreaking new legislation was led by Friends of the Earth through The Big Ask campaign, which was launched in 2005 with Radiohead front man Thom Yorke and supported by 200,000 people.

A short history of The Big Ask

2. Energy Bill
Following a successful campaign - led by Friends of the Earth and the Renewable Energy Association - the Government amended its Energy Bill to allow the introduction of a feed-in tariff.

Feed-in tariffs are a system of long-term contracts guaranteeing a premium payment to homes, businesses and communities for the electricity they generate from small-scale renewable energy schemes, such as solar panels and water turbines.
The Government has committed itself to introducing a scheme, which will be available to projects up to five megawatts (equivalent to two large wind turbines) by April 2010.

Friends of the Earth is calling on Ministers to ensure that payments are high enough to encourage investment in all renewable technologies.

The feed-in tariff legislation sees the UK join 20 other European nations which currently operate various versions of the policy. Germany generates 15 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources. Turnover in the German renewable industry is £20 billion and employment in the sector is 250,000 (compared to a UK renewable energy sector that employs about 20,000 people).

3. The Committee on Climate Change will provide advice on which sectors these emissions cuts should come from in its report on 1 December. It will also advise on what level of emissions reductions should be made in the UK and how much can be bought in - in the form of carbon credits - from overseas. The UK Government will examine this advice and set the 'budgets' in March 2009 - at the same time as the financial Budget.

For further information please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577