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Queens Speech could be greener

Posted: 06/11/2007

The announcement of a climate change bill in this mornings Queen's Speech has been welcomed by environmentalists, but campaigners are urging the Prime Minister to strengthen the proposed new law to ensure that Britain plays a leading role in tackling global warming. There were also proposals for changes in planning and housing departments.

Her Majesty said "My Government is committed to protecting the environment and to tackling climate change, both at home and abroad. A bill will be brought forward to make the United Kingdom the first country in the world to introduce a legally binding framework to reduce carbon dioxide emissions."

This will set legally binding targets to reducing carbon emissions. It is thought that the government will aim for a 60% reduction by 2050.

Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper said: “We’re delighted that the UK is set to become the first nation to introduce legislation to cut its contribution to climate change. But the Government must strengthen its proposed legislation if it is to be truly effective and deliver the scale of action that scientists are now calling for. This means setting annual milestones that will deliver at least an 80 per cent cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, and including Britain’s share of emissions from international aviation and shipping. If Gordon Brown toughens up this legislation, his visions of becoming a world-leader in developing a low carbon future can become a reality.”

The Queen also read out "Available and affordable housing is one of my Government’s main priorities. Legislation will be introduced to create a new Homes and Communities Agency that will deliver more social and affordable housing, and promote regeneration."

The bill will create a Housing and Regeneration Agency to support house building and social housing. This will help the government build 3 million new homes by 2020".

This announcement paves the way for the merger of English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation.

She then added "There will also be a Bill to reform the planning system, providing for quicker and more transparent decision-making."

Friends of the Earth said they were deeply concerned over the new planning bill, and warned that according to recent legal advice, government plans may be unlawful. Planning coordinator, Naomi Luhde Thompson said: “Government plans to overhaul the planning system are bad news for democracy and bad news for the environment. Its proposals will strip away one of the public’s key democratic rights to have a say on how their area is developed, easing the way for a whole range of climate-damaging developments. These proposals are undemocratic, environmentally-damaging and - according to recent legal advice – likely to be unlawful.”

“It is particularly disingenuous for the Government to use climate change as an excuse to push through these changes. In reality the majority of the projects that will be given the green light under the new system, from motorway widening-schemes to new airport runways, will lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. We are completely behind the development of new renewable energy sources, but stripping away peoples democratic right to have their say is the wrong way to go about it.”

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