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Liberal Democrats on Kent County CouncilThe Official Opposition on Kent County Council |
County Votes For Robust Climate Change Law "Kent is facing the most extreme results of climate change of any part of Britain"
November 15, 2006 1:34 PM
Many scientists believe we have only 20 years to reduce greenhouse gases or the damage done to the planet may be irreversible
On November 2nd, at the meeting of the County Council, KCC Liberal Democrats succeeded in gaining the County Council's support for a motion putting pressure on Government to incorporate a Climate Change Bill including annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, in today's Queens Speech, so that this legislation will be passed in this session of Parliament.
Trudy Dean, Group Leader, in moving the motion, said: "All parties are now agreed that Climate Change is the biggest challenge our generation faces, and in Kent we are facing the most extreme results of climate change of any part of Britain. We are experiencing long periods of drought; almost each year sees Kent's maximum summer temperature breaking UK records, and river and coastal flooding are getting more frequent. Of course effective action will only result from world wide cooperation particularly from the USA, China and India. But the Industrial Revolution, with its widespread use of coal and oil, started in this country, and we must be part of the movement to put right the damage we have done."
Trudy explained that she was fearful that the Climate Change Bill the Government had agreed to introduce would be ineffective. David Milliband has stated that he does not want annual targets for greenhouse gas emissions, but proposes ten year targets instead. Many scientists believe we have only 20 years to reduce greenhouse gases or the damage done to the planet may be irreversible. 'Ten year targets are a recipe for putting off action till year nine, and Government must recognise the need for urgent action with annual cuts in emissions.'
The Stern Report commissioned by the Government, and published four days before the Council meeting, said that Government regulation is essential since industry and business have failed to put their own house in order.
The Conservative Group members supported the motion, adding further words about the need to achieve international agreement and help developing countries to adopt low carbon pathways to growth. The Labour Party members refused to support the motion.
After the meeting Trudy said: "If I had proposed this motion six months ago the only party in favour of it would have been the Liberal Democrats. So I welcome the support from the Conservative Party which has, until recently, opposed the Climate Change Levy The refusal of the Labour Party members to support it underlines the failure of the Labour Government so far to take effective action on Climate Change. The UK greenhouse gas emissions under Labour have increased! Lib Dems welcome the reference to a Climate Change Bill within today's Queen Speech, but regret no reference was made to any proposal for annual targets."
The full original text of the Lib Dem motion is produced below with the added Conservative amendment which follows on from 'milestones'. For further information on Climate Change go to the website of Lib Dem MP Chris Huhne at http://www.chrishuhne.org.uk/
"that Kent County Council agrees to support a 'Climate Change Bill' for major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and particularly in carbon dioxide emissions, by 2050, and agrees that such a long-term target will best be met through a series of regular milestones; and hopes that such a Bill will be brought forward in this session of Parliament so that annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 3 percent can be delivered in a framework that includes regular reporting and new scrutiny and corrective processes and asks that HM Government to establish an effective, equitable international agreement to succeed the current the Kyoto targets from 2012 which would include setting binding targets for the developed world, whilst encouraging China, India and other rapidly developing nations to adopt lower carbon pathways to growth and hopes that such a bill will be brought in this session of Parliament."