Climate Change Bill - 16th Oct, 2008

Sian James has made comments following a long campaign to ensure that the Government puts carbon reduction targets into law.

Sian James MP said:

"The Bill will make us the first country in the world to put carbon reduction targets into law.

"I welcome the creation of the new Government Department for Energy and Climate Change as shows a commitment to taking on one of the greatest challenges the world faces.

"Many of my constituents have written to me on the issue of climate change. They have lobbied me for the Government to look at the long-term target for Britain’s emissions.

"The Government has announced that the greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 will not be 60 per cent lower than 1990, but 80 per cent lower.

"I'm pleased that the Government has taken this action and that target will be set in law and I will continue to represent my constituents on this vital issue."

ENDS

More Information:

1. The Climate Change Bill will make us the first country in the world to put carbon reduction targets into law.

2. Based on a lot of evidence, we had said the target should be a 60 per cent cut in emissions. Since then, the situation has got even more serious. Arctic sea ice has melted faster than expected. Emissions from other countries have grown faster. The impacts of each degree of climate change are known to be worse.

3. The new Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that we would take action based on what the Climate Change Committee has said is needed. So for the UK to play its part, our greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 will not be 60 per cent lower than 1990, but 80 per cent lower.

The target will also apply not just to CO2, but to all greenhouse gasses. With these cuts Britain will be playing its part to stabilise greenhouse gasses at a level that limits global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.