UK PARTICIPATION IN EU CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION STRATEGY

Early day motion 545, tabled 18 January 2005 by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 42 members.

That this House notes the grave threat posed to this planet and life on Earth by climate change; endorses the Government's target for a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 60 per cent. by 2050; notes that this target was reconfirmed by the Environment Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions on 13th January; further notes however that minutes of the European Council from 9th December 2004 confirm that the UK Government pressed for removal of a similar target from an EU document on climate change; believes this target is an essential component of the EU's medium and longer term emission reduction strategy; recalls the Prime Minister's personal commitment to making the tackling of climate change one of the Government's two priorities for the UK's presidencies of the EU and G8; believes that attempts to weaken EU policy in order to bring the Bush administration on board are both dangerously naive and futile; and calls upon the Government to reinstate its commitment to this key carbon reduction target both at home and in the EU.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 25, Labour 7, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 2, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.