Climate Change Bill [HL]

My Lords, in speaking to the government amendment, I will also cover the amendments on targets in this group. We are very pleased that the Government have seen sense with regard to the top margin of their targets. We fully support their amendment to remove 32 per cent. It did not make sense to provide a range of targets that would legally penalise a successful Secretary of State for doing better than expected. Thus, we have tabled an identical amendment, which sits within the government amendments. Other amendments within this group deal with interim targets. These are designed to strengthen the role of the Committee on Climate Change by ensuring that they are in charge of setting the framework of goals to be met. A substantial development in our knowledge of climate change is likely to occur. The Minister acknowledged this. This is why we have been arguing for a dual approach to targets, focusing on both the short and long term. We do not seek to dictate the trajectory to the 2050 target from the start, and nor do the Government, as I understand it. These targets can be amended with the advance in knowledge, as recommended by the committee. However, in terms of business and government planning, these interim targets provide the important scaffolding that will ensure that we reach our ultimate goal in 2050, whatever that may be.