Climate Change Bill to include aviation and shipping

The best information available so far on the extent to which aviation and shipping
will be included in the Climate Change Bill:
The Aviation Environment Federation have considered the proposals for the inclusion
of aviation, and their response can be found at:     http://www.aef.org.uk/?p=287
See also
Guardian Editorial (29.10.2008)       Turning up the heat
29.10.2008   (Guardian, Yesterday in Parliament)
 
October 28 session

Climate change bill

The government made key concessions to include aviation and shipping emissions
within the landmark climate change bill. The move followed a campaign by environmentalists
and a threatened Labour rebellion. Under amendments, the climate change committee
will be required to consider the emissions when setting carbon budgets.

Climate change minister Joan Ruddock said: “We agree that action to reduce emissions
from international aviation and shipping will be vital to global efforts to tackle
climate change.” The government agreed that those emissions should “either be
included in the bill’s targets and budgets … or an explanation should be laid
before parliament explaining why this has not been done”.

Tory spokesman Gregory Barker said: “We warmly welcome the government’s change
of heart and measured response to include emissions from international aviation
and shipping in the climate change bill.”

The climate change secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “This will make us the first
country in the world to enshrine in law binding climate change targets and stretching
ambitious targets, and they need to be so, to 80% by 2050.” The bill was given
a third reading by 463 votes to three.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/29/houseofcommons-lords
 
Hansard debate     Climate Change Bill []
28.10.2008   (BBC)

The government has agreed to include aviation and shipping in an ambitious push
to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Ministers said they would give “due regard” to projected emissions from the two
industries when setting budgets for carbon reduction in the future.

More than 50 Labour MPs pressed for the sectors to be included in the Climate
Change Bill, which sets a target to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

Environmental campaigners have welcomed the government’s change of heart.

The government agreed to redraft its bill, which was given a third reading by
463 votes to three – a majority of 460 – in the Commons.

It accepted an amendment requiring ministers to take into account projected emissions
from the sectors when setting future budgets that will cap emissions.

Environment minister Joan Ruddock said that action to reduce emissions from commercial
aviation and shipping was “vital” to tackle the threat of climate change.

“In setting or advising on budgets due regard should be given to emissions from
international aviation and shipping,” she said.

But she stressed the main way of tackling such emissions would be through international
agreements such as the EU emissions trading scheme and a successor to the Kyoto
climate change protocol.

‘Imperative’

Former environment minister Elliot Morley, who backed the amendment, said the
industries’ inclusion in the bill was “absolutely imperative” and would give a
“clear signal” the UK was serious in moving to a low-carbon economy.

The Conservatives backed the government’s move, saying no industries should be
“exempt” from efforts to tackle carbon change

But they called for assurances that the competitiveness of the UK aviation industry
would not be affected.

 

Graph showing carbon dioxide emissions by industry

 

The Lib Dems said there were no “firm guarantees” in the bill over the issue
and said ministers were afraid of “tough action” against the aviation industry.

Once agreed, the Climate Change Bill would make the UK the first country to have
legally binding targets for the reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases.

It would require the government to publish carbon budgets every five years –
starting in December – and enable it to set up carbon trading schemes to encourage
firms to reduce pollution.

The government has resisted calls in the past to include aviation and shipping,
saying it would be nearly impossible to allocate responsibility for international
emissions to individual countries.

The government’s advisory committee on climate change, headed by Lord Turner,
recommended last month that the sectors must figure in climate change targets
while arguing that they would not be able to meet the 80% target by 2050.

‘Greener future’

Ms Ruddock said there was no “agreed methodology” on how emissions should be
attributed at this stage.

But she said she was encouraged aviation would now be included in the EU’s new
emissions trading scheme and “optimistic” that plane manufacturers were committed
to cleaner technology.

Environmental campaigners said the move would make the legislation more effective
and pledged to hold ministers to the targets.

“Developing a low carbon economy here in the UK is the only way to deliver on
the law, move Britain out of recession and into a greener more prosperous future,”
said Andy Atkins, executive director at Friends of the Earth.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7693875.stm

The bill is due to become law next  month.
.

.

Climate bill to include planes

28.10.2008   (BBC)

Aviation and shipping look set to be included in a government bill targeting
cuts in greenhouse gases, to head off a rebellion by backbench MPs.

MPs will vote later on a bill to enforce an 80% reduction in carbon emissions
by 2050.

More than 50 Labour MPs have backed an amendment calling for the law to cover
emissions from planes and tankers.

Ministers said the bill would “take into account” the two sectors, a move welcomed
by environmental campaigners.

‘Comprehensive approach’

But it is unclear what this will mean in practice and whether ministers will
back the rebel amendment, signed by 56 MPs, seeking statutory rather than voluntary
targets for aviation and shipping.

The amendment seeks equivalent cuts in emissions elsewhere to make up for any
rise in those from the two industries.

The government has resisted calls in the past for such a move, arguing it would
be difficult to determine how international aviation and shipping emissions could
be allocated between different countries.

 

 We want to reflect Adair Turner’s advice to government that emissions from aviation
and shipping should be taken into account when developing our strategy to reach
our targets



Government spokesman

 

But earlier this month, the new climate change secretary Ed Miliband said he
would accept recommendations from the government’s advisory committee on climate
change, headed by Lord Turner, that the sectors must figure in climate change
targets.

In a statement ahead of Tuesday’s vote, officials said they were “determined
that international aviation and shipping should be part of a comprehensive approach
for tackling climate change”.

“We want to reflect Adair Turner’s advice to government that emissions from aviation
and shipping should be taken into account when developing our strategy to reach
our targets,” they said.

But they added that there must also be a recognition that “there is currently
no agreed method of allocating international emissions to individual countries”.

Environmental campaigners said such a commitment would make the legislation much
more effective.

“The final piece of the jigsaw is in place,” said Andy Atkins, of Friends of
the Earth.

“People from right around the UK demanded a strong law. The government have listened.”

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas said such a move would signal that ministers
were “starting to take their environmental responsibilities seriously”.

But she said the government’s current emissions record was poor and that it needed
to prevent future airport expansion around London if it was to be serious about
meeting its targets.

The Climate Change Bill, being given its third reading in the Commons, would
require the government to publish carbon budgets every five years and enable it
to set up carbon trading schemes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7693875.stm

 

 

[However, there remains a loophole  that  the country can buy its  way out of cuts
through up to 50% carbon trading with China and other countries – whereas an overall
reduction is needed.   ]