Gordon Brown's first speech at Labour Conference as PM indicates new approach to Climate Change Bill
September 28, 2007
Gordon Brown has delivered his first speech at the Labour Party Annual Conference in Bournemouth as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister, indicating that he may strengthen some of the targets contained in the Climate Change Bill.
He set out his vision for Britain as a world leader "in energy and the environment from nuclear to renewables".
He added that the biggest challenge would perhaps be to safeguard the environment and "to turn the silent, rising tide of global warming".
He indicated that he might well review the target currently included in the draft Climate Change Bill, which is expected to pass into law this winter, commenting, "I am proud that Britain will now become the first country in the world to write into law binding limits on carbon emissions. But I am not satisfied: so I am asking the new independent climate change committee to report on whether the 60% reduction in emissions by 2050, which is already bigger than most other countries, should be even stronger still."
The Prime Minister also promised to invest in energy efficiency, renewables, carbon capture, clean fuels and new environmental technologies.
He said, "I want the new green technologies of the future to be the source of British jobs in British businesses."
Finally, he committed to working "tirelessly" for a new post-Kyoto United Nations climate change agreement with binding targets for all the richest countries in order to help the poorest.
The response from the environment campaign group Friends of the Earth to the speech was largely positive.
Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director said, "We are delighted that the Prime Minister has recognised the need to bring the Government's Climate Change Bill into line with the latest science."
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