Environment

The government is seeking industry views on proposals to set statutory targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, included in a draft Climate Change Bill published today.

Environment secretary David Miliband (pictured) outlined plans to make the UK’s targets – for a 60% reduction by 2050 and a 26-32% cut by 2020 – legally binding.

The government has said it is focusing its efforts on reducing CO2 emissions because the UK has so far been successful in cutting emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, such as methane emitted from landfill.

It also wants to introduce a system of statutory five-year 'carbon budgets', set at least 15 years in advance, which would place a limit on the total quantity of CO2 emissions over the period.

The draft bill has proposed that reductions in emissions achieved overseas but paid for by UK organisations through emissions trading should count towards targets and carbon budgets.

Miliband said: “We want everyone – the public, industry, parliament – to have their say to ensure that the bill really delivers.”

An accompanying strategy paper sets out plans that include more efficient energy use and investment in low-carbon technologies such, as wind power.

Consultation closes on 12 June.

The government has also launched a consultation on UK enforcement of the controversial new EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) regulations.

It wants to make it an offence to breach REACH requirements, which apply to chemical manufacturers, suppliers and users, including packaging businesses.

But it has decided against setting up a new body to enforce the regulations. Instead, this will fall to existing bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and local authorities.