The Climate Change Bill which MPs will be debating in the coming weeks is a important opportunity for Britain to play its full part in the fight against climate change.
Unfortunately, as it stands, the bill doesn't go far enough.
In its current form, the proposed law fails to commit Britain to doing its fair share to tackle climate change and keep global temperature rise within 2°C, it is poor people who will suffer first and worst.
As you will see below, we've already won two of the four changes we think the bill needs. So, it's essential we keep up the pressure on MPs.
Make the bill work for the world’s poor - email your MP.
What does the Bill currently say?
The draft bill sets a long-term target of 60% cuts in UK carbon emissions by 2050 (from 1990 levels) and a series of five-year ‘carbon budgets’.
It also requires the government to give Parliament a yearly progress report and establishes an independent carbon committee to advise and monitor the government on climate change.
What does Christian Aid think?
Christian Aid welcomes the introduction of a Climate Change Bill as a step in the right direction, but believes that several key amendments need to be made if the bill is to be effective in tackling the urgent issue of global climate change.
At least an 80% cut in the UK's carbon emissions
Millions of the world’s poorest people are already suffering because the climate is changing around them. Scientists agree that the earth must not exceed an average temperature rise of 2°C, or catastrophic climate change will be unavoidable.
This means that a 60% cut in emissions by 2050 is simply not enough to prevent us passing this 2°C threshold. Christian Aid believes that the bill needs to enforce at least an 80% cut.
UPDATE: Gordon Brown says he's open to a higher target but still no changes to the bill. We have to keep up the pressure: so please email your MP.
Mandatory standards for UK companies
Christian Aid has recently reported how the worldwide activities of UK companies account for 12-15% of global carbon emissions – but very few companies report all the emissions for which they are responsible. The bill therefore needs to provide clear mandatory reporting standards.
UPDATE: The House of Lords has passed an amendment providing for this in the bill but we have to ensure the Commons doesn't overturn it.
Annual targets
Finally Christian Aid is concerned that the bill’s five-year targets mean there is too much scope for cuts to go off track. Five years is longer than the length of an average UK parliament, so any failure to meet the targets could be blamed on the previous government. Annual milestones would therefore be better as they would ensure cuts are happening as agreed and reflect the urgency of the situation.
UPDATE: The government accepted this proposal and will include it the bill.
What changes to the Bill are we calling for?
Commit the UK to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, rather than by 60% as currently proposed.
Introduce mandatory reporting of carbon emissions by companies registered in the UK.
Include international aviation and shipping in the reduction targets.
Commit to reducing emissions year on year.
When will the Bill become law?
MPs will be crucial to our campaign as they debate the bill in the House of Commons this autumn.
Until the Climate Change Bill is finally voted into law in March or April 2008 it will remain a central focus of our campaigning work on climate change. We are campaigning on the bill as part of the I Count coalition.
Likely timetable of the Climate Change Bill
November 2007 Bill introduced into House of Lords
Apr 2008 Bill goes to House of Commons
June 2008 Bill due for Royal Assent to become law
