Why do we need a Climate Change Bill? |
Thanks to Friends of the Earth's Big Ask campaign a Climate Change Bill was announced in the Queen's Speech.
But now we need to make sure that the new Bill is a strong one – committing the government to year-on-year cuts of carbon dioxide emissions.
Climate change is seen by our main political parties as a major threat - all three have set targets to cut CO2 emissions by 2050.
Long term targets aren't enough, and here's why:
Every tonne of CO2 released into the atmosphere will stay there for around 100 years.
If in 2049 we invented a super technology that met the 2050 target overnight, levels of CO2 in the atmosphere would already be too high.
Setting a long term target gives a false sense of security – emissions have risen in all but two of the last eight years.
A strong Climate Change Bill will ensure that, through annual committments, no Government palms their responsibility on to future administrations.
As well as individual changes we need changes in business and investment choices – companies must start investing in greener products.
Urging people to save energy will be undermined if the Government doesn't show it's taking the matter seriously itself.
The increased level of certainty that would arise from setting annual targets for carbon dioxide cuts would help achieve this.
We've put together some of your most frequent questions, so if there's something you need to know, chances are someone has already asked it. Have a look through the full list to see if you can find what you're looking for.
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Links:The Big Ask, Stop Climate Chaos, Climate solutions
Last modified
Content: Feb
2007
