Government to introduce statutory climate targets; road charging powers
Wed 15 November 2006
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The Government has announced plans for the introduction of a Climate Change Bill that will make the UK's 2050 target for a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions legally binding. In the Queen's Speech, plans for an extension of powers to local authorities to introduce road charging and to lay the foundations for a national road pricing scheme have also been announced.
The Climate Change Bill will also establish a 'Carbon Committee' to ensure the 2050 carbon dioxide reduction target is met, create new powers to help deliver it and improve the way CO2 emissions are monitored and reported.
The Climate Change Bill does not, however, make reference to annual CO2 reductions targets, which had been favoured by the main opposition parties and environmentalists.
The Queen's Speech also included the Government's intention to press ahead with plans to introduce trial road-pricing schemes across England, in an effort to cut congestion.
The draft Road Transport Bill gives local authorities more freedom to bring in their own schemes in busy areas and will look at the scope for a national road toll.
Hopes of primary legislation to aid the introduction of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) were dealt a blow, however, by the absence of relevant clauses in either of the above bills, or a separate bill in the Queen's Speech. Appropriate legislation would have created an information gateway between HM Revenue and Customs and the RTFO administrator to reduce the potential costs of fraud.
The LowCVP Director, Greg Archer, said: "This is a setback for the introduction of the RTFO. It is disappointing that time has not been made available to accommodate this uncontroversial but important piece of legislation. It suggests that insufficient priority continues to be given to climate matters in relation to road transport."
Related Links
BBC News - Climate Change Bill link
BBC News - Road Transport Bill link
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