Hilary Benn the Environment Secretary has announced changes to the Climate Change Bill published in March 2007. The draft bill set out clear legally binding targets for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK by at least 60% by 2050 and a 26 - 32% reduction by 2020. There is also a proposal for an independant committee of experts to be formed called the Committee on Climate Change to advise the government on the best way to acheive the set targets. One of the responsibilities of the new committee will be to advise the Government on whether the set target of  a 60% reduction by 2050  could be strenghtened further. Hilary Benn said ' We need to step up the fight against climate change and we need to do it fast. The draft bill we set out earlier this year, and have now refined, is a ground breaking blueprint for moving the UK towards a low carbon economy.'

The revised Climate Change Bill was published on 29/10/2007. For more information please go to the DEFRA website.