Government backs tough climate change targets
Helen has welcomed the Government’s bold commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
The new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, announced the increased target to the House of Commons on October 16, and emphasised that new evidence of the rate and impact of climate change had led the Government to go further than the original 60% cut outlined in the Climate Change Bill.
This new target will include all greenhouse gases, rather than just CO2, and the Government will also strive to find an international agreement to reduce shipping and aviation emissions.
Helen said:
“This is a really important important step forward, and I am delighted that the Government have redoubled their commitment to combat climate change. The latest scientfic studies show that climate change is happening much faster than we initially thought, and it is vital that we take this kind of tough action now.
I am also really pleased that the Prime Minister has created a new Government department dedicated to climate change. This is the first time that full cabinet status has been given to tackling climate change, and it demonstrates how seriously the Government takes this issue”.
