Tue 28 Oct 2008, 09:26 GMT

UK to include shipping in Climate Change Bill


Government agrees to include shipping emissions in new legislation.



Shipping and aviation look set to be included in the UK government's ground-breaking Climate Change Bill following pressure from backbench Labour MP's and environmental campaigners.

The government had already agreed to increase the country's emission reduction target from 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050 in accordance with the recommendations made by its independent climate change committee, headed by Lord Turner.

However, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband, had seemed reluctant to commit to including shipping and aviation emissions in the new legislation, as he said it would be difficult to determine how international emissions could be allocated between different countries.

In a statement ahead of today's vote, officials said they were "determined that international aviation and shipping should be part of a comprehensive approach for tackling climate change".

"We want to reflect Adair Turner's advice to government that emissions from aviation and shipping should be taken into account when developing our strategy to reach our targets," they said.

Andy Atkins, Friends of the Earth executive director, said: "The final piece of the jigsaw is in place. The world's first climate change law will also be a world class climate change law.

"People from right around the UK demanded a strong law. The Government have listened."

The climate change bill is set to become law next month.


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