Britain unveils 'global first' bill to cut CO2 emissions

It plans to cut greenhouse emissions by up to 32 percent by 2020, but scientists say it may not be enough.

from the March 14, 2007 edition

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Rapidly growing public concern

The new bill is the tip of an iceberg of initiatives under consideration in a country where climate change is rapidly emerging as a key political issue. Following ominous studies such as the Stern report in October and the UN panel report last month, a recent survey found that 19 percent of Britons feel global warming is now the most important issue facing the country today, compared with 4 percent in 2005.

Politicians appear increasingly aware that green politics may bring in votes. David Cameron, the Conservative leader who cycles to work and is reportedly planning to erect a wind turbine on his home, wants to tax frequent flyers. The Liberal Democrats have long advocated green taxes.

Tony Blair, who is keen to demonstrate tangible effort before he steps down in the summer, on Tuesday called climate change "the biggest long-term threat facing our world." London mayor Ken Livingstone last month announced plans to cut the capital's emissions by 60 percent by 2025.

Britain has also styled itself as an engine for action in the wider European Union, which last week agreed to cut carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

Concrete action, accountability

But despite making the right noises about climate change, Britain's results have been underwhelming. It may be on track to meet its Kyoto target of cutting emissions by 12.5 percent of 1990 levels by 2010. But after falling sharply in the early 1990s, carbon emissions have started rising in recent years, leaving environmentalists fuming that hot air will not be enough to save the planet.

The new climate bill would set five-year carbon budgets against which governments can be judged, just as they can for fiscal budgets. A new statutory body, the Committee on Climate Change, is expected to be made up of eight scientific experts who will advise the government on staying within its carbon budget.

Failure to hit the targets would be ill-advised for any government, an official said. "Any government will be under political pressure to stay within the budget so as not to breach a legal duty under the bill," the official said under customary condition of anonymity. "The government would be liable for judicial review," he adds.

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