Committee on Climate Change

The title of this blog is coming true.

The Committee on Climate Change has made its first pronouncement on how the country / government should implement the Climate Change Bill.

Headed up by Lord Adair Turner they have said that the country needs to cut emissions by at least 80% by 2050. In addition they have said we need to have stopped using fossil fuels completely within 20 years.

These targets should also apply to shipping and aviation.

Amazing - ok, saying it is easier than doing it but it is a fantastic start. There are some really difficult decisions just ahead of us - a third runway for London? - a coal fired power station in Kent? - a barrage for the Severn?

This tied in with appointment of Ed Milliband in the new Department of Energy and Climate is for me a real ray of hope in the often depressing world of climate change politics.

All we have to do now is turn the Climate Change Bill into an Act of Parliament - a job for November