Taking forward the UK Climate Change Bill
Title | Taking forward the UK Climate Change Bill PDF eBook |
Author | Great Britain: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
Publisher | The Stationery Office |
Total Pages | 156 |
Release | 2007-10-29 |
Genre | Law |
ISBN | 9780101722520 |
This document sets out the Government's response to the public consultation on the draft Climate Change Bill (Cm. 7040, ISBN 9780101704021) and to the reports of the following Parliamentary Committees during session 2006-07: the Joint Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill (HLP 170-I/HCP 542-I, ISBN 9780104011379); the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (HCP 534-I, ISBN 9780215034892); and the Environmental Audit Committee (HCP 460, ISBN 9780215035561). The Climate Change Bill seeks to introduce a clear, credible and long-term framework to support emissions reductions in the UK, designed to maximise the social and economic benefits and minimise costs, and also sets out an international precedent, reinforcing the UK's position as a consistent leader in the field of climate change and energy policy. This document explains the main changes the Government intends to make to the Bill, taking into account the consultation responses and the recommendations of the three Parliamentary Committees, and key elements of the Bill include: putting into statute the UK's domestic targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through domestic and international action by at least 60 per cent by 2050, and 26 to 32 per cent by 2020, against a 1990 baseline; secondary legislation to set binding limits known as carbon budgets on aggregate carbon dioxide emissions over five year periods; and the creation of a new independent body, the Committee on Climate Change, to advise on setting carbon budgets.
Draft Climate Change Bill
Title | Draft Climate Change Bill PDF eBook |
Author | Great Britain: Parliament: Joint Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill |
Publisher | The Stationery Office |
Total Pages | 176 |
Release | 2007-08-03 |
Genre | Science |
ISBN | 9780104011379 |
The Committee warmly welcome the introduction of the Climate Change Bill and find it heartening that the UK is taking a lead on this issue. The aim of the Bill is to reduce the net UK carbon account by at least 60% from the 1990 baseline by 2050, although this may not be enough; the Government have emphasised that this is a minimum target. However shipping and aviation are excluded from the carbon budgets and this could be a weakness. The Committee have concerns about the legal enforceability of targets and budgets and propose a system of annual milestones and a compliance mechanism. To recognise the importance of the Bill they think that the legal duty should be placed on the Prime Minister rather than then Secretary of State. The draft Bill is the first of what is likely to be a series of measures. In particular the Committee think that adaptation policies need to be addressed, along with the role of local government.
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
Title | How to Avoid a Climate Disaster PDF eBook |
Author | Bill Gates |
Publisher | Vintage |
Total Pages | 201 |
Release | 2021-02-16 |
Genre | Science |
ISBN | 0385546149 |
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical—and accessible—plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions—suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.
Draft Climate Change Bill
Title | Draft Climate Change Bill PDF eBook |
Author | Great Britain. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs |
Publisher | The Stationery Office |
Total Pages | 188 |
Release | 2007-03-13 |
Genre | Science |
ISBN | 010170402X |
This document contains a consultation document, the text of the draft Climate Change Bill, explanatory notes to the Bill, and a regulatory impact assessment, published for pre-legislative scrutiny and public consultation. The Bill will introduce a long-term framework for the UK to achieve its goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The consultation document discusses the context and rationale behind the Climate Change Bill and sets out the main reasons why legislation in this area is required. The key elements of the Bill are: (1) setting targets in statute and carbon budgeting, with a statutory goal of a 60 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions through domestic and international action by 2050, based on a new system of "carbon budgets" set at least fifteen years ahead (with reviews at five yearly intervals), and with progress reported annually to Parliament; (2) establishing an independent Committee on Climate Change to advise the government on how to reduce carbon emissions over time and across the economy; (3) creating enabling powers to allow the introduction of new domestic emissions trading schemes through secondary legislation; (4) reporting requirements will enhance the overall transparency and accountability of UK action on climate change, with the Committee on Climate Change reporting annually to Parliament on progress towards budgets and targets, with the Government required to produce a response to this independent report. The consultation closes on 12 June 2007, and responses are invited using the electronic form that is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/climatechange-bill/ although any electronic / written format will be accepted. Responses should be sent to: E-mail: [email protected] or by post to: Patrick Erwin / James Hardy, Climate Change Legislation Team, Area 4/F5, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE.
Draft Climate Change Bill
Title | Draft Climate Change Bill PDF eBook |
Author | Great Britain: Parliament: Joint Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill |
Publisher | The Stationery Office |
Total Pages | 428 |
Release | 2007-08-22 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN | 9780104011478 |
Vol. 1 of the report was published as HLP 170-I/HCP 542-I (ISBN 9780104011379)
Building a Low-carbon Economy
Title | Building a Low-carbon Economy PDF eBook |
Author | Great Britain. Committee on Climate Change |
Publisher | The Stationery Office |
Total Pages | 514 |
Release | 2008 |
Genre | Business & Economics |
ISBN | 9780117039292 |
Climate change resulting from CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions poses a huge threat to human welfare. To contain that threat, the world needs to cut emissions by about 50 per cent by 2050, and to start cutting emissions now. A global agreement to take action is vital. A fair global deal will require the UK to cut emissions by at least 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. In this report, the Committee on Climate Change explains why the UK should aim for an 80 per cent reduction by 2050 and how that is attainable, and then recommends the first three budgets that will define the path to 2022. But the path is attainable at manageable cost, and following it is essential if the UK is to play its fair part in avoiding the far higher costs of harmful climate change. Part 1 of the report addresses the 2050 target. The 80 per cent target should apply to the sum of all sectors of the UK economy, including international aviation and shipping. The costs to the UK from this level of emissions reduction can be made affordable - estimated at between 1-2 per cent of GDP in 2050. In part 2, the Committee sets out the first three carbon budgets covering the period 2008-22, and examines the feasible reductions possible in various sectors: decarbonising the power sector; energy use in buildings and industry; reducing domestic transport emissions; reducing emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases; economy wide emissions reductions to meet budgets. The third part of the report examines wider economic and social impacts from budgets including competitiveness, fuel poverty, security of supply, and differences in circumstances between the regions of the UK.
Beyond Copenhagen
Title | Beyond Copenhagen PDF eBook |
Author | Great Britain. Department of Energy and Climate Change |
Publisher | The Stationery Office |
Total Pages | 92 |
Release | 2010 |
Genre | Science |
ISBN | 9780101785020 |
This plan sets out the Government's belief that the low carbon transformation can be a major driver of economic growth and job creation - in the UK, in Europe and globally. In it the UK Government makes clear that: it wants to build on the strengths of the Kyoto Protocol, and is open to extending that agreement as a way of getting the legal deal needed; it is in favour of strengthening the UN decision making process that was so frustrating at Copenhagen; it is pushing for the EU to increase its plans to cut emissions in line with comparable moves elsewhere, supporting the European Commission's work to identify the practical steps that would be required to implement a 30 per cent reduction target. The Action Plan builds on the Copenhagen Accord, in which countries have put forward actions that, if delivered in full, would see global emissions peak before 2020.