Archived press release

Uk needs new climate change law, says coalition

13 July 2005

A coalition of NGOs and MPs is today calling for a new law to ensure that the UK reduces its emissions of greenhouse gases. Despite Tony Blair's concerns about climate change, UK emissions are continuing to rise, and are now higher than they were in 1997 when Labour came to power.

MPs and NGOs will launch the details of the proposed new law in Parliament in Committee Room 5, House of Commons, at 11am on Wednesday 13 July 2005. They will argue that without a legal framework, the UK will fail to make the essential year-on-year cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases.

The importance of tackling climate change was highlighted at last week's G8 summit in Edinburgh, where US opposition blocked any tangible agreement for an international plan of action to tackle the problem.

The Climate Change Bill is supported by:

• Former environment Ministers from both Labour (Michael Meacher MP) and the Conservatives (John Gummer MP) and the current LibDem environment spokesman (Norman Baker MP)

• 200 other MPs who have declared their support for the Bill [1]

• 10 NGOs who have formed a coalition to work for a new climate law [2]. The coalition includes Friends of the Earth, Help the Aged, the Association for the Conservation of Energy, Christian Aid and WWF-UK.

The new law would:

• Set a legally binding target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent every year

• Compel the Prime Minister to report annually to Parliament on progress towards meeting the target

• Introduce a series of measures to get emission cuts back on track if they do not meet the three per cent target report. This would include: requirements on ministers to introduce new policies; greater powers for Select Committees; and ultimately symbolic pay cuts for the Ministers failing to cut emissions.

At the recent general election, all three major parties supported long-term cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, all promising a 60% cut by 2050. Yet emissions have risen in recent years, making it ever harder to meet such a target. As carbon dioxide persists in the atmosphere for many years, the real limit is not simply the level of emissions in 2050, but cumulative emissions between now and then. Without this law, high emissions for the next ten years will mean far bigger annual cuts would be needed by 2050.

After the briefing Michael Meacher MP will introduce a presentation Bill which will include the measures campaigners want to see made law.

Notes

[1] Over 200 MPs have signed EDM 178 supporting the Bill.

[2] The coalition includes the Association for the Conservation of Energy, ACT, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, Help the Aged, People and Planet, Transport 2000, WWF-UK

Quotes

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director, Tony Juniper, said:

"Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity. We have a window of opportunity to prevent catastrophic climate change but that gap is narrowing. It is critical that we set ourselves on a pathway to achieve the necessary carbon dioxide reductions. This bill will set us on a sensible and achievable glide path towards the necessary long-term targets."

Mervyn Kohler of Help the Aged, said:

"Older people are at risk in the extremities of both hot and cold weather. Air pollution is a further health hazard. To manage these risks better, as well as passing on a decent world to future generations, Help the Aged strongly supports this initiative."

Association for the Conservation of Energy's Director Andrew Warren, said:

"The energy efficiency industry needs the reassurance this Bill gives that the Government is serious about its long term co2 reduction targets. We can then ensure the long-term investment necessary to produce new, cutting-edge carbon-saving technologies."

World Development Movement's Head of Campaigns and Communications, Benedict Southworth, said:

"The impact of climate change will hit the worlds poorest harder. Justice for the worlds poor requires developed countries to take responsibility for the problems they have caused. By setting out clear emission reduction target the Climate Bill will ensure that the UK doesn't pass the buck to the world's poorest countries."

Christian Aid's senior policy officer, Andrew Pendleton, said:

"Poor people in the developing world are on the frontline of climate change, where increasingly severe weather is making lives and livelihoods more difficult year on year. And yet they have done little themselves to trigger climate change, which is why rich countries must make firm, legally-binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

ACT's Ron Bailey said:

"Climate change is the greatest threat facing us. Citizens want government to act. The targets in this bill and the mechanisms to hold government and MPs to account are crucial for sustainability and democracy"

People and Planet's Meredith Alexander, said:

"Students have identified climate change as the greatest threat facing our generation. This bill is an important step to tackle that threat"

Transport 2000 Stephen Joseph said:

"The UK certainly leads the world in rhetoric on climate change but if our words are to be taken seriously then we must get our own house in order and this means making the connection between climate change and transport choices. We must tackle our increasing car use and the rapid growth in aviation"

Matthew Davis, WWF-UK's Climate Change Campaign Director, said:

"Targets that can be missed with impunity take us backwards on climate change. They provide an illusion of progress, while covering up the lack of real action to reduce emissions. This Bill will make targets meaningful, ensuring that Ministers are individually responsible for staying on track, and spelling out the consequences should they fail. As well as the devastating impact on people, this could mean up to one third of land-based species facing extinction by the middle of this century while many marine species could also be lost."

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust