Climate Change Bill must achieve results not just set targets

7.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Oct 2006

The Thames Barrier has had to be raised 55 times in the last five years. Rising sea levels and flooding are already taking their toll.

Commenting on the announcement that the Government is considering a climate change bill in the forthcoming Queen's speech, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said: "Targets are a good first step, but if targets could solve problems this would be the best governed country in the world. Where Labour and the Tories have fallen down is in failing to propose practical measures to change our behaviour, such as green taxes, better energy efficiency schemes for homes and tougher vehicle emission standards."

Chris Huhne added "The climate change bill must include annual targets for cutting carbon emissions so that the Government's efforts can be assessed, while an independent scientific body should report each year on progress. Climate change matters because if we don't tackle it quickly it will cost far, far more later on. Already storm damage, rising sea levels, drought and flooding are taking their toll. For example, the Thames Barrier has had to be raised 55 times in the last five years compared with just 12 times in the previous five".