| Legal briefing on the Climate Change Bill: the scientific case for an 80% target and the proposed review of the 2050 target [pdf] |
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June 2008 | Download Full Document The Government originally proposed a target for 2050 of 60% in the Climate Change Bill. This figure was widely acknowledged as out of date according to the science. Following extensive campaigning by NGOs and with wide cross-party support for an 80% target, the Government requested advice from the new Committee on Climate Change and, in the final stages of the Bill, agreed to increase the target to 80%. This process shows the difficulties in setting long-term targets and adopting policies to meet the targets where irrelevant political and economic concerns can be used to override the scientific evidence. ClientEarth’s legal analysis of the issue in June 2008 raised concerns with the Committee's terms of reference to consider the appropriate 2050 target, and the use of lists of relevant factors in the legislation. |
