Monday, November 3, 2008

UK climate change bill passes third reading in House of Commons

London (Platts)--29Oct2008

The UK climate change bill passed its third reading in the House of
Commons late Tuesday evening, a spokesman for the government Department of
Energy and Climate Change confirmed Wednesday morning.

     The bill would set a legal target on the country to cut emissions by 80%
by 2050 from 1990 levels.

     The bill now passes to the House of Lords, and the government hopes the
bill will gain Royal Assent before the end of November, Jonathan Farr, a
spokesman for the DECC department said.

     Key changes made during recent debate include that the government must
take account of international aviation and shipping when considering
reductions in emissions. If these are not included by the end of 2012 in
government plans, the government will now have to explain to parliament why
not.

     Farr said the government hoped there would be an international agreement
within the next year or so on how to account for emissions from international
aviation and shipping.

     Another recent change is that the bill now introduces corporate reporting
of emissions. Although many big companies, especially industrial and energy
companies, have long had to account for their emissions, and even buy carbon
credits, reporting of carbon emissions will be widened.

     According to Hansard debate records the bill passed Tuesday night by 463
votes for and 3 against. Those voting against were Christopher Chope, Andrew
Tyrie and Peter Lilley.

     Before MPs divided for their vote, Lilley said to the Commons: "Given
that we are passing the climate change bill, which is based on the supposition
that the climate is getting warmer, let me point out that it is now snowing
outside, in October."

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