Draft Climate Change Bill Published
The Government's blueprint for tackling climate change was published on 13 March 2007.
The draft Climate Change Bill,the first of its kind in any country, and accompanying strategy, set out a framework for moving the UK to a low-carbon economy. It demonstrates the UK's leadership as progress continues towards establishing a post Kyoto global emissions agreement.
Key points of the draft bill include:
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A series of clear targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions - including making the UK's targets for a 60% reduction by 2050 and a 26% to 32% reduction by 2020 legally binding.
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A new system of legally binding five year "carbon budgets", set at least 15 years ahead,to provide clarity on the UK's pathway towards its key targets and increase the certainty that businesses and individuals need to invest in low-carbon technologies.
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A new statutory body,the Committee on Climate Change, to provide independant expert advice and guidance to Government on achieving its targets and staying within its carbon budgets.
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New powers to enable the Government to more easily implement policies to cut emissions.
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A new system of annual open and transparent reporting to Parliament. The Committee on Climate Change will provide an independant progress report to which the Government must respond. This will ensure the Government is held to account every year on its progress towards each five year carbon budget and the 2020 and 2050 targets.
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A requirement for Government to report at least every five years on current and predicted impacts of climate change and on its proposals and policy for adapting to climate change.
The draft bill will be subject to a full public consultation alongside pre-legislative scrutiny in Parliament. Further details can be found via the related link below.
Sustainability West Midlands (SWM), the regions independent Sustainable Development Champion body established by the Government Office for the West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands Regional Assembly, is leading regional work on the climate change programme, taking forward the West Midlands Climate Change Impact Study to develop practical options for the region to take account of climate change. A report on the potential impact of Climate Change on the West Midlands can be downloaded from the Related Documents section below.
A great deal of public intervention on environmental issues involves regulation and grant aid. What is often missed is opportunities to develop economic and social benefits from environmental assets and vice versa. In the West Midlands this has lead to the development of the Environmental Technologies Cluster Opportunities Group and an Environmental Economy Project linked to work on protected landscapes.
The development of a regional approach to biodiversity that includes landscape scale priorities for ecosystems is being progressed through the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership.
Coordination and prioritisation of environmental work in the West Midlands is achieved through the newly formed Environmental Partnership.
For more information click on the links below or contact the Sustainability and Rural Affairs Team.
