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 believes that climate change is the most serious long-term threat requiring co-ordinated action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at global, European and domestic levels; welcomes the Government's commitment to introduce a climate change bill in this session to strengthen the UK's efforts to tackle this crucial issue, putting into legislation a long-term target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and establishinga framework and new enabling powers for achieving this; welcomes consideration of credible and effective targets, annual reporting and an independent body, the Carbon Committee, to work with the Government to reduce emissions as part of a comprehensive programme including carbon markets, regulation, planning, incentives and fiscal measures which will lead to carbon budgeting and a low carbon economy; and looks forward to an open and inclusive debate on the Government's detailed proposals in early 2007 based on effective outcomes rather than political gestures.
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.
That this House believes that climate change is a serious environmental, economic and social challenge which requires urgent action; believes that the United Kingdom's ability to take a global lead on the issue is compromised by the fact that domestic emissions of carbon dioxide have been rising; therefore urges the Government to introduce a Climate Change Bill to establish an independent commission to monitor the scientific evidence and set annual rolling targets towards cutting carbon emissions by at least 60 per cent. by 2050; and further believes that the Bill should require the Government to report to both Houses of Parliament each year on progress seeking their approval for any additional measures needed to combat climate change.
"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
