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Benn announces statutory review of 2050 climate target

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (46/08) issued by The Government News Network on 18 February 2008

A review of the target to reduce the UK's CO2 emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 will become a statutory duty under the Climate Change Bill, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said today.

Mr Benn announced the decision alongside other amendments to strengthen the Bill as it moves towards completing its passage through the House of Lords.

The Government has committed to ask the independent Committee on Climate Change, headed by Adair Turner, to consider whether the 2050 target should be tightened up to 80 per cent, as the Committee considers its advice on the first three five-year carbon budgets.

Mr Benn said:

"The Climate Change Bill is groundbreaking legislation, and will provide the foundations for building a low carbon Britain. We need it to be as strong as possible.

"The scientific evidence has moved rapidly, and as part of a new global climate deal, developed countries may have to cut their emissions by as much as 80 per cent by 2050. That's why we announced a review of the UK target last year.

"This review will now be a statutory duty, and I've asked the Committee to provide their advice on both the 2050 target and on the first three carbon budgets by 1 December this year.

"The Committee will have the independence and the expertise that we need to provide us with the best possible advice, and its review will give us a firm, credible basis for making a decision on whether the target should be changed."

Other amendments tabled today include measures to strengthen compliance with the target, increase accountability and transparency and expand the remit of the Committee on Climate Change.

The Government proposes to strengthen compliance with the 2050 target by requiring the Secretary of State to bring forward proposals and policies that will enable the carbon budgets to be met, and to consider the duty to meet the 2050 target in developing those policies and measures.

To provide greater transparency, when publishing the report on policies and proposals to meet budgets, a new requirement will see the Government setting out an annual indicative range for the carbon account over the five-year budget. The indicative annual range, combined with greater clarity about the timescales for policies to take effect, will ensure that the Government can be held to account for progress during each year of the budget period.

The role of the Committee on Climate Change will be strengthened to ensure that the Government has access to the best possible information in making decisions under the Bill. In particular, the Government will be required to seek and take account of advice from the Committee in an expanded number of situations, including before deciding whether to incorporate international aviation or international shipping emissions in the UK's targets and budgets.

Notes to Editors

1. Details of all amendments tabled today and the rationale behind them; and further information on the Climate Change Bill can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/index.htm

2. The scope and timeline of the 2050 target review are detailed in the Terms of Reference, which can be found in the summary at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/pdf/govt-amendment-package.pdf

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