The Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published its report on the Draft Climate Change Bill. This, you will remember, commits the UK to achieving 60% CO2 reductions by 2050, and proposes a series of five-yearly target reductions.

The Committee supports the principal purpose of the proposed bill. However the Committee's Chair, the Rt Hon Michael Jack MP says:

“It’s clear from the evidence we heard that the Government is going to be pushed very hard on the level of the carbon dioxide reduction ta rget currently in the Bill. Much new scientific research suggests that 80% rather than 60% should be the number.

It’s to help settle this argument that we suggest that the Bill gives some real teeth to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) in letting it arbitrate on this matter.

With no actual sanction against the Government in the Bill if it does not meet its target, it is vital that Parliament has an annual opportunity to hold the Executive to proper public account for any failure to perform under the terms of the Bill. Judicial review is no substitute for the court of public opinion.”

While the Committee accepts the case for five-year budgetary periods (many NGOs want annual targets) it recommends that 'clear annual milestones' are set and published so that it becomes apparent well before the end of a budgetary period whether policies are working. It also states that buying carbon credits from other countries to help meet carbon budgets 'should only be exercised as a last resort' and should be “strictly limited to a quantifiable amount to be advised by the CCC”. If a target is missed, the Committee recomends debate on a remedial action plan is held in the Commons.