Friends of the Earth Cardiff Cyfeillion y Ddaear Caerdydd

Climate Change Rally, London. Photo: © babarji

The Stern Report

Friends of the Earth believe that the Government must have a new Climate Change Bill. This should include a tough package of measures to reduce UK emissions must follow the publication of the Stern Report. This must include legally-binding annual targets. The report, which looks at the economic costs of climate change, shows that governments must act urgently to avoid disastrous economic costs.

The report highlighted the costs of inaction. It warned of the global impacts, with the threat that millions of people will be displaced as a result of increased drought and rising sea levels. Access to water will become a major issue and millions of species could die out. But Sir Nicholas Stern, a senior government economist, said that the cost of tackling the problem was affordable and that polluters had to be made to pay.

The Stern Report supports the UK's view at the international climate talks in Nairobi in December and should help persuade more reluctant countries to act. The Kyoto Protocol must be strengthened and ways found to bring other countries on board. The Government will have a stronger case if it is committed to action at home.

Friends of the Earth believe that green taxation is an essential part of a broad package needed to tackle rising emissions. The money raised should be used to help make alternatives to flying and motoring cheaper and more attractive.

Friends of the Earth believe that green taxation is an essential part of a broad package needed to tackle rising emissions. The money raised should be used to help make alternatives to flying and motoring cheaper and more attractive.

The Government must review existing policies on road and airport growth which will lead to further rises in carbon dioxide emissions.

If the world is to avoid global economic, social and environmental catastrophe, then a broad package of measures is needed at a national and international level. The technology exists to take us forward to a clean green low-carbon future. Emissions across the EU are still rising. Governments must urgently adopt climate-friendly policies.

In October Friends of the Earth published data showing that emissions of carbon dioxide had risen in the first six months of 2006. They are now the highest they had been since Labour came to power in 1997. In 1997 The Labour Government set itself a 13 year target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010 from 1990 levels. Emissions are only 5 per cent below 1990 levels at present, excluding international aviation and shipping figures. The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research says that including these sources would mean that emissions are now higher than in 1990.

Friends of the Earth believe Britain must continue to show leadership and should use this report to persuade other countries to act. We welcome the announcement by the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, of a new legislative framework on climate change. However, given the Government's current poor record on reducing climate change gas emissions, annual targets are crucial to achieving the Government’s goals.