Livingstone: Govt should go further to tackle climate change

Tuesday, 13, Mar 2007 12:00

Labour mayor Ken Livingstone has called on the government to go further to tackle climate change.

The climate change bill published this morning commits the government to a 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2050.

Mr Livingstone said: "I welcome the publication today of the government's draft climate change bill, which will make Britain one of the first countries to enshrine tackling climate change in legislation - just as London last month became the first major city to publish a comprehensive plan to cut carbon emissions."

He added: "But I would like to see the government go further. First the bill should set annual targets for emission reductions."

"Second it should move towards personal carbon allowances, whereby the majority of people who are willing to live in a way that minimises carbon emissions receive financial rewards for doing so paid for by charging those people who wish to continue to make large carbon emissions," he said.

And he backed Conservative proposals to tax frequent fliers more but challenged the party to announce support for the capital's congestion charge, which they have opposed at the last two mayoral elections.