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New Climate Change Bill

We welcome the climate change bill introduced in the Queen’s speech. The measures proposed should help us to plan a reduction in carbon emissions. By setting firm targets and having an independent body assess progress accountability is improved. The snag is that we do not know over what time period targets will be set. It could be five years or more in which case it would be quite possible for government’s assurances to lag behind its action. Many are calling for annual targets in the recognition that we need to reduce our emissions by at least 3% per year on average over the next 40 years.

As we go to press the UN Climate Change Conference in Nairobi is coming to a conclusion. UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has rightly made reference to a “frightening lack of leadership”. The United States and Australia are still dragging their heels on binding targets but there is real hope that the US position could change in the next year or two. We now have two years to put into place more significant post-2012 Kyoto targets. There is a sense in which, as the government delegations leave Nairobi, the real work behind the scenes begins afresh. The International Panel on Climate Change will publish a new scientific report in early 2007 and this will help to focus minds.

Steve Hucklesby
Secretary for International Affairs

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