Aviation And Shipping Included In UK Emissions Reductions Bill

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

29 October 2008

A new government bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the UK will apply to the country's aviation and shipping sectors.

The new Climate Change Bill - which has been subject to several amendments since its original introduction - has been drawn up to try and tackle the long-term effects of greenhouse gases, with a view to try and reducing the UK's carbon output by 80% over the next four decades.

Originally, the bill had no plans to include either transport sector in the legislation; however, after discovering that the combined output of the two industries contributed nearly 8% of all carbon emissions in the UK, the government changed its mind.

Environmental activists and members of the Green Party have welcomed the proposals, stating that the efforts made by the UK will pave the way for the rest of the world to follow suit.

However, leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, has expressed some concern, remarking that if the government is to be taken seriously, they must stop building and expanding upon airports around the country in order to help bring the current emission rates right down.

Worries have also been raised about how best to separate Britain's emission recordings from other countries in the world where international flights or sea-based journeys are concerned.

MPs gave the Bill its third reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

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