Climate Bill Announced !
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Climate |
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The 'Big Ask' |
FOE’s campaign for a Climate Change Bill has been a stunning success.
Well over half of all MPs signed the ‘Early Day Motion’ (EDM), calling for a bill.
FOE had expected to have to campaign well into next year to get this level of support.
The government said in the Queen's speech on 15th July 06 that it would introduce a climate bill. David Miliband, Environment minister, has been quite bullish. See what he says about the bill's contents.
The EDM tabled by Michael Meacher, says “ That this House agrees with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser that climate change is a threat to civilisation; welcomes the cross-party agreement in favour of major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and particularly in carbon dioxide emissions, by 2050; believes that such a long-term target will best be met through a series of more regular milestones; and therefore notes the Climate Change Bill that was presented by a cross-party group of honourable Members in the final days before the General Election, and hopes that such a Bill will be brought forward in this Parliament so that annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 3 per cent. can be delivered in a framework that includes regular reporting and new scrutiny and corrective processes.”
By 30/10/06, over 400 MPs had signed the motion, well over half.
West London MPs who have signed the motion in favour of a bill (as at 30/10/06) are:
- Sarah Teather, Brent East, LibDem
- Andrew Slaughter, Ealing, Acton & Shepherds Bush, Lab
- Piara Khabra, Ealing Southall, Lab
- Steve Pound, Ealing North, Lab
- Alan Keen, Feltham & Heston, Lab
- John McDonnell, Hayes & Harlington, Lab
- Edmund Davey, Kingston & Surbiton, LibDem
- Susan Kramer, Richmond Park, LibDem
- Nick Hurd, Ruislip Northwood, Con
- John Randall, Uxbridge, Con
- Vincent Cable, Twickenham, LibDem has apparently signed, but not shown on parliamentary web page
- Mark Field, Cities of London & Westminster, Con
- Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Kensington & Chelsea, Con)
- Dawn Butler, Brent South, Lab
West London MPs who have not signed the motion are:
- Barry Gardiner, Brent North, Lab
- Ann Keen, Brentford & Isleworth, Lab
- Tony McNulty, Harrow East, Lab (But says he supports it)
- Gareth Thomas, Harrow West, Lab (But apparently supports it)
- Greg Hands, Hammersmith & Fulham, Con
- Karen Buck, Regent's Park & Kensington North, Lab
Performance by party:
- LibDem: 4 out of 4? (100%?)
- Conservative: 4 out of 5 (80%)
- Labour: 6 out of 11 (55%) (but 2 more support it)
- All parties: 14 out of 20 (70% - around the average for the country.)
For the final list see the parliamentary web site.
What the bill will contain
David Miliband, Environment minister says:
*It will put the Government's long term goal to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by 60% by 2050 into statute. How the target is defined
and set, and how we measure and report on our progress, are
fundamental issues that we are still considering. We will also
consider appropriate interim targets.
*It will establish an independent body - the Carbon Committee - to
work with Government to reduce emissions over time and across the
economy. Its advice will be open, transparent, equitable and mindful
of sectoral and competitiveness impacts, including the need to
secure energy supplies at competitive prices.
*It will create enabling powers to put in place new emissions reduction
measures needed to achieve our goals.
*It will improve monitoring and reporting arrangements, including how
the Government reports to Parliament.
What next ?
Getting the government to introduce a bill was a fantastic achievement by Friends of the Earth and its
co-campaigners. But there is still a lot to be done. It is essential to make sure the bill is strong enough to
have an effect. There are already worrying signs. Tony Blair has already indicated he does not want annual targets -
which is key feature of any legislation. His isolation was graphically shown on the front page of The Independent where
logos of NGOs including christian groups and Oxfam as well as policical parties were crowded together supporting
annual targets, with just Blair and UKIP opposing them.
Links
For more on the bill and the campaign see main FOE site
EDM and votes (parliamentary site)
See also DEFRA press release
Back to climate introduction
For links to other climate news, see also climate introduction
Nov 06
David Miliband, Environment minister says:
*It will put the Government's long term goal to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by 60% by 2050 into statute. How the target is defined
and set, and how we measure and report on our progress, are
fundamental issues that we are still considering. We will also
consider appropriate interim targets.
*It will establish an independent body - the Carbon Committee - to
work with Government to reduce emissions over time and across the
economy. Its advice will be open, transparent, equitable and mindful
of sectoral and competitiveness impacts, including the need to
secure energy supplies at competitive prices.
*It will create enabling powers to put in place new emissions reduction
measures needed to achieve our goals.
*It will improve monitoring and reporting arrangements, including how
the Government reports to Parliament.
What next ?
Getting the government to introduce a bill was a fantastic achievement by Friends of the Earth and its co-campaigners. But there is still a lot to be done. It is essential to make sure the bill is strong enough to have an effect. There are already worrying signs. Tony Blair has already indicated he does not want annual targets - which is key feature of any legislation. His isolation was graphically shown on the front page of The Independent where logos of NGOs including christian groups and Oxfam as well as policical parties were crowded together supporting annual targets, with just Blair and UKIP opposing them.
Links
For more on the bill and the campaign see main FOE site
EDM and votes (parliamentary site)
See also DEFRA press release
Back to climate introduction
For links to other climate news, see also climate introduction
Nov 06