WWF: Bill should aim higher for emission cuts

Tuesday, 13, Mar 2007 12:00

WWF has warned that the climate change bill due to be published today does not go far enough to cut carbon emissions.

The bill is expected to propose a 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 but WWF believes it should be at least 75 per cent.

The charity is also calling for emissions from shipping and aviation to be included.

Paul King, Director of Campaigns for WWF-UK, said: "The draft bill deserves credit because it is the first of its kind, but in its current form it falls short of delivering the tough measures needed to bring about the sort of changes we need to protect the planet.

"It also provides too many get-out clauses - five year budget periods will leave far too much scope for buck-passing between different governments and ministers, while excluding aviation and shipping emissions is little short of cheating.

"Hopefully these issues can be resolved during consultation on the bill."