Member Article

Climate Change Bill gets North East backing

Final approval was given last week to legislation that commits Britain to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. The Climate Change Bill makes Britain the first country to have a legally binding framework on climate change policy.

The Climate Change Bill offers measures which are expected to help combat the threat of climate change. These include reducing CO2 emissions by at least 26% by 2020 and enabling the quicker and simpler introduction of additional emissions trading, waste reduction, renewable energy and transport schemes.

Adrian Hilton, the North East Climate Change Partnership Co-ordinator, said: “This legislation, which makes Britain a world-leader on climate policy, is welcomed by the North East Climate Change Partnership. Our findings, based on a regional Greenhouse Gas Baselines and Trajectories Study, clearly tells us we face significant goals in meeting these ambitious but essential targets.

“The North East Climate Change Partnership, made up of key stakeholders across the region, has already carried out significant work to assess what climate change means for the North East, both in terms of emissions and the likely impacts of inevitable climate change. This puts us in a strong position to respond to the targets presented by Government through the bill, and ensure that the region is best placed to minimise risks and take advantage of the opportunities presented.”

Wyn Jones, chair of Sustaine, one of the key stakeholders of the North East Climate Change Partnership, said: “The North East of England has to play a full part in helping to address the global issue of climate change, both by reducing emissions and also by adapting to change.

“The challenge lies with all sectors, public bodies, businesses and all individuals to promote and commit to reducing emissions and efficient use of all resources. Reducing emissions and adapting to change will, in most cases, also bring benefits by reducing costs.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .