That this House warmly welcomes the recent commitment of the European Council to binding targets for reducing carbon emissions; congratulates the Government on continuing to lead the climate change agenda; further welcomes the announcement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that, following talks with leading manufacturers and retailers, the UK will be the first European country to phase out high energy GLS light bulbs from almost all domestic use and will complete this by 2011, thus saving a further 1.2 million tonnes of carbon and around £30 in respect of an average energy bill; recognises that, although switching light bulbs will pay for itself over time, many on low incomes need support to meet the initial costs incurred by taking this step, which is a clear example of how individuals can make a difference in combating climate change; and urges the House authorities to make the switch to energy saving light bulbs and expedite energy saving measures so that the Palace of Westminster can lead by example.
That this House welcomes the decision of Australian Prime Minister John Howard to ban the sale of high energy-using incandescent lightbulbs as a vital step in the battle against global warming; notes that these bulbs waste a staggering 80 per cent. of the energy they consume through heat rather than light; and calls on the Government to introduce similar legislation in the UK and to encourage similar moves across the European Union.
"Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations." IPCC 2007 Summary for Policymakers, pg 5.
"Although there remains uncertainty in many aspects of climate science, as in all science, over the past few years an overwhelming and well-founded acceptance has emerged, not only in the scientific community, but among the general public and in political arenas, that human activity, and in particular the burning of fossil fuels, is warming the planet. Far from the debate being over, with this awareness the discourse on climate change has largely moved from one of questioning the science to disputing what ought to be done about the problem." Sir John Houghton in Nature
