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| 'Binding' carbon targets proposed | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The government has unveiled plans to set a "legally binding" target to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. | The government has unveiled plans to set a "legally binding" target to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. |
| The draft Climate Change Bill calls for "carbon budgets" to be set every five years and for ministers to give annual progress reports on cutting emissions. | The draft Climate Change Bill calls for "carbon budgets" to be set every five years and for ministers to give annual progress reports on cutting emissions. |
| Environment Secretary David Miliband said the plans would give "clarity and confidence for businesses and individuals". | |
| But he rejected opposition calls for annual targets on reducing emissions. | But he rejected opposition calls for annual targets on reducing emissions. |
| "Changing your policy on the basis of one year's weather isn't a sensible way of doing things," he told the BBC. | "Changing your policy on the basis of one year's weather isn't a sensible way of doing things," he told the BBC. |
| 'Real confidence' | 'Real confidence' |
| The plans outlined in the draft bill include: | |
| | |
| In a statement, Mr Miliband said: "The debate on climate change has shifted from whether we need to act to how much we need to do by when, and the economic implications of doing so. | |
| "The time is therefore right for the introduction of a strong legal framework in the UK for tackling climate change. The draft Climate Change Bill is the first of its kind in any country." | |
| A full Climate Change Bill is set to be published in the autumn. | |
| At the weekend, the Conservatives unveiled environmental proposals including VAT or fuel duty on domestic flights. | |
| But Mr Miliband said more focus was needed on cutting carbon emissions from homes, citing government plans to make all new houses carbon-neutral by 2016 and encourage the use of energy-efficient light bulbs. | |
| If we are going to fly more, we've got to do something else less David Miliband, Environment Secretary | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "At the moment, domestic buildings account for 25% of the UK emissions. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "At the moment, domestic buildings account for 25% of the UK emissions. |
| "Aviation represents 5%, so aviation is important but it's one fifth as important for this big problem as domestic emissions." | "Aviation represents 5%, so aviation is important but it's one fifth as important for this big problem as domestic emissions." |
| Mr Miliband added: "If we are going to fly more, we've got to do something else less. | Mr Miliband added: "If we are going to fly more, we've got to do something else less. |
| "In the end the planet doesn't mind whether it's an aviation emission or another emission." | "In the end the planet doesn't mind whether it's an aviation emission or another emission." |
| He also said that "criminalising aviation won't save the planet". | He also said that "criminalising aviation won't save the planet". |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown said the bill would mean governments would "manage our carbon budgets with the same prudence and discipline" as economic budgets. | Chancellor Gordon Brown said the bill would mean governments would "manage our carbon budgets with the same prudence and discipline" as economic budgets. |
| But BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said opposition MPs were planning to table amendments which would force the government to accept annual targets. | But BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said opposition MPs were planning to table amendments which would force the government to accept annual targets. |
| The bill seeks to set regular budgets for reducing emissions | The bill seeks to set regular budgets for reducing emissions |
| Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said: "To be truly effective, any bill should have three elements: annual emission reduction targets; an independent body to set as well as monitor these targets; and an annual carbon budget report from the secretary of state. | Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said: "To be truly effective, any bill should have three elements: annual emission reduction targets; an independent body to set as well as monitor these targets; and an annual carbon budget report from the secretary of state. |
| "We've got to stop having a system whereby targets are set 10 years in advance, ignored up until year eight, and then are quietly dropped in year nine." | "We've got to stop having a system whereby targets are set 10 years in advance, ignored up until year eight, and then are quietly dropped in year nine." |
| Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said his party was "certainly supporting the bill" but that the 60% target may "not be good enough". | Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said his party was "certainly supporting the bill" but that the 60% target may "not be good enough". |
| "We may well need to aim more towards about 80%, but it's a good first start and the framework is broadly right," he told BBC News. | "We may well need to aim more towards about 80%, but it's a good first start and the framework is broadly right," he told BBC News. |