Committee on Climate Change reveals ambitious targets

Lord Adair Turner, the recently appointed chair of the high-profile Committee on Climate Change, visited Belfast last month. He has the difficult job of setting national targets for CO₂ reductions and monitoring the government’s performance in achieving them.

At the launch in Stormont he outlined the Committee’s role of providing independent, expert advice on how the UK can best meet its climate change goals and how this will play a central role in creating a low-carbon economy.

He clearly stated that the Government will rely on the Committee’s detailed, expert advice to ensure that it tackles its carbon emissions over the next four decades.

Lord Turner said: "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, but we can mitigate its effects at manageable economic cost provided we take early and effective action. The Climate Change Bill commits the UK to stretching emission reduction targets and the Committee will have a vital role in advising how to achieve them."

This expert body will advise on the pathway to 2050 by giving advice on the level of carbon budgets, on how much effort should be made in the UK and overseas and how domestic effort should be spread across the economy. It will also review the UK's target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050.

Lord Turner brought the launch to a dramatic close by announcing his wish to see emissions cut by as much as 90% by 2050 - through changes in lifestyle, improved energy efficiency and renewable low carbon energy sources.