Climate Change Bill [HL]

My Lords, we support these amendments because the upper limit of the target seemed rather arbitrary. Could the Minister say, in summing up, how 32 per cent was arrived at? Is it 32 per cent of the carbon budget itself? The Minister has mentioned brave decisions a few times. I used the expression advisedly because it was first used at Second Reading by the noble Baroness, Lady Billingham, from the Minister’s own Benches, in discussing the Government’s view on bringing forward this Bill. I thought it was an apt expression to use again, and I see that the Minister has now taken it up. However, the word ““brave”” is particularly interesting when considering these targets. Many noble Lords have talked about electricity production in meeting the 2020 targets, but that will form only 30 per cent of the target to be looked at. Another 30 per cent is to come from transport, 30 per cent from the domestic sector and 10 per cent from agriculture. However, I have seen different proportions assigned depending on the report you read. What is important is that a 26 per cent reduction needs to be made across the board, and that means a 26 per cent reduction in transport, which is one of the larger areas. The Mayor of London has had problems recently with Porsche over his proposal for a £25 congestion charge for high-emission vehicles. The fact is that he may face judicial review. Such examples prove that meeting the target will be an issue. Whether budgets and the decision-making function of the climate change committee on setting those targets will act as a lever in any judicial review of curtailing certain aspects of transport is one of the issues that may form the basis of other Bills. I do not believe that this is going to be the only Bill for 10 years; I am quite prepared to see further legislation if not next year, then certainly the year after. We support these amendments and we thank the Government for listening to the concerns expressed.