ePolitix.com asked its stakeholders to participate in an online discussion on today’s publication of Climate Change Bill which puts into law the government’s long-term ambition for cutting carbon emissions.

Stakeholders also comment on the environmental plans put forward by Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

Party Response: Conservative Party

Commenting on the publication of a draft climate change Bill, Peter Ainsworth, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, said:  "We have been calling for a Climate Change Bill and today's publication is a welcome step forward.

"The Government is right to consult over its proposals and to seek a wide range of views before moving to legislation. It is essential to get the framework right, and we look forward to a constructive debate."

He added: "There are however, some key elements missing at present.

"The proposed Committee on Climate Change should not only advise future Governments, but set the targets for cutting climate change emissions, basing their approach on the unfolding science.

"We would like to see a system of rolling annual rate of change  targets - rather than targets set for five year periods - to ensure that the UK remains on track towards a low carbon economy and to ensure true accountability.

"There is a danger that the five year approach will enable responsibility for failure to be shunted on from one Government to another."

Party Response: Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"The Climate Change Bill is a step forward because we need a framework to sustain a decades-long march towards a non-fossil fuel economy, but it is too weak in failing to set annual targets.

"Since governments generally go to the electorate after four years, we need clear benchmarks each year to assess progress on the greatest policy challenge of our time.

"This bill just sets NIMTO targets - Not in My Term of Office targets.

"Moreover targets must not become a substitute for serious proposals to cut carbon emissions. If targets alone resolved problems, this would be the best-governed country in the world.

"Sadly the Government has been cutting the green taxes necessary to help shape our behaviour, while the Tories have failed to put forward a single firm proposal.

"Only the Liberal Democrats have suggested fairer, greener but not higher taxes.

"There are substantial points of detail in the draft bill that will need amendment.

"The carbon budget periods of five years may be too short and inflexible to take account of the business cycle.

"Annual targets which could explicitly allow for economic conditions and the weather would be more sensible.

"The overall target cut of 60 per cent of carbon dioxide by 2050 fails to take account of other greenhouse gases, and it is also at the unambitious end of what the science now suggests is necessary.

"Members of the committee on climate change must be independent, authoritative and vetted by parliament rather than merely appointed by the Secretary of State.

"Within government, a climate change cabinet committee chaired by the Prime Minister would ensure that a strong cross-departmental focus is put on meeting the targets."

Stakeholder Response: BRC

To comment to BRC click here

BRC policy director Nigel Smith said: "Retailers have played a significant role in promoting green technology, ensuring products like energy-efficient light bulbs are prominently displayed and readily available.

"However, at this point in time, not everyone can afford to make the green choice. By adopting the measures we are proposing, the Government would put environmentally friendly alternatives within reach of a greater number of consumers.

"This is particularly true of energy efficient light bulbs which are currently significantly more expensive than the conventional alternative.

"For a large number of households the extra cost of going green is difficult to justify even if the initial outlay is partly written off against the extended life and lower power use of the energy-efficient bulbs. T

"That is why we are calling on the Chancellor to scrap VAT on these products immediately and bring them into the price range of more families.

"The Government has also made it clear it wants more consumers and businesses to become producers of their own energy. Ensuring that environmentally friendly improvements to homes and businesses, like the addition of windmills and solar panels, are not included in rateable values would help promote their use."

Stakeholder Response: KPMG

To comment to KPMG click here

A spokesman said: "The intense debate on green taxes and other ways of ensuring we pay the full price of carbon is very welcome. 

"While there is an active discussion on the best route for aviation to pay its whack, the debate has moved on tremendously in the last year – nearly everyone accepting the current privileged position for aviation is unsustainable.

"Like other global businesses, KPMG has put its best foot forward to promote videoconferencing, teleconferencing and cutting down on meetings. We are promoting lower-carbon forms of travel where possible like Eurostar, but always a balance has to be struck between business competitiveness and environmental considerations. 

"Indeed, for short-haul travelling by train is better for business as well as the environment with much more productive time and less risk of delay.

"What does make tremendous sense is that while the UK must always demonstrate leadership, environmental measures on aviation need a European-wide response. 

"Just putting VAT on domestic flights for example may be good in principle, but may only serve to lure people flying say from the North West to South Africa to fly via Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt rather than Heathrow where presumably flights will be VAT exempt, thus actually increasing emissions but with no tax revenue and at a cost to UK competitiveness. 

"While the EU extensions of trading of carbon emissions to aviation has wide support and does put a price on carbon and while there is a strong case for EU-wide VAT agreement and other policy initiatives to replace short-haul air transport with better rail services, we cannot operate as an island. 

"We have to be at the centre of Europe to drive through environmental policies that will have a much wider impact on lowering carbon emissions and changing business and individual behaviour."

Stakeholder Response: CPRE

To comment to CPRE click here

"Since our Prime Minister, his chief scientist and his adviser on the economics of climate change all agree that climate change threaten the world's future and its economy, it's time for joined up thinking on all fronts, including on land use planning, and air and road transport.
 
"According to Stop Climate Chaos, of which CPRE is a member, we've got one decade to stop the thermometer from registering an average increase of more than two degrees to avoid catastrophic change.

"With such a tight timescale, we can't afford to let carbon dioxide emission reduction targets slip without taking action within a year. Five-yearly targets don't seem to us to reflect the urgency for action.
 
"CPRE urges the Government to show strong leadership in its Climate Change Bill."

Industry Response: British Airways

"The role of aviation in climate change must be seen in context.

"If you closed down every airline that operates from the UK, you would reduce global CO2 emissions by just 0.1 per cent.

"You will not solve global warming by singling out aviation. 

"While it is crucial that aviation takes action on emissions, the notion that flying is a selfish, anti-social activity that single-handedly threatens planetary catastrophe bears no relation to the evidence.

"Introducing a tax is an extremely blunt instrument that provides the Treasury with extra funds for general public expenditure without any benefit to the environment whatsoever.

"We believe that emissions trading is the most environmentally effective and economically efficient way to manage carbon dioxide emissions from aviation."

Stakeholder Response: Construction Products Association

To comment to CPA click here

The Construction Products Association told ePolitix it "welcomes the publication of the government’s draft Climate Change Bill as a key process in establishing the policy framework towards delivering a low-carbon economy.

"Although much of the scene has already been set by the Stern Review, and the recent report from the International Policy on Climate Change, there is an urgent need to achieve global agreement to ensure that the excellent work of the UK and EU is not undermined.

"The Association is encouraged by the Chancellor’s announcement to focus on existing stock to improve energy efficiency.

"Just one per cent improvement in reducing carbon emissions from existing stock is more than equal to making a full year’s new build, zero carbon.

"We therefore welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to review existing EU tax policies and make it possible to reduce VAT on energy efficient products rather than just for their installations.

"The Construction Products Association and its members see this as a clear opportunity to take the lead and are keen to drive the agenda forward for improvements in energy efficiency, as this is the most easiest and cost-effective way to reducing CO2 emissions.

"Much time has already been lost in focusing on technological innovations.

"The Association’s view is that the technological solutions are already in place but action is what is needed to make the difference.

"We urge Departments to put the mechanisms in place to improve the existing stock and enable the industry to take up this challenge.

"Businesses need long-term certainty and stability in policy frameworks to enable sound and effective investments to be made.

"We therefore welcome the proposal to set targets by 2050 with interim reviews to ensure UK is on track.

"Climate change is a global problem and we welcome the government’s drive to develop international agreements on tackling climate change.

"There are already a number of policies in place at national and EU level, but the next step is in gathering global momentum. Without a global agreement, much of the good work of the UK and EU could be lost and place unnecessary burdens on businesses that are increasingly competing internationally."