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Britain needs 'a ministry for climate change' says MPs
Last updated at 11:07am on 29.10.07
Tim Yeo: The EAC chairman says the committee's recommendations would 'create a more effective framework for dealing with climate change'
A powerful new Whitehall body must be established to drive climate change policy after a decade of failure by the Government to "rise fully" to the challenge, MPs said.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) warned the Government's failure to meet self-imposed targets to cut emissions by 20 per cent by 2010 was of concern for greenhouse gas reductions but also the UK's international leadership on the issue.
The committee's Structure of Government and the Challenge of Climate Change report welcomed the draft Climate Change Bill and the creation of the cross-Government Office of Climate Change last year as positive moves.
But it said the frameworks in Government for dealing with climate change were "confused" and did not promote effective action on reducing emissions.
The committee called for a Climate Change and Energy secretariat, based in the Cabinet Office, to lead the Government's climate policy and cut inter-departmental conflict.
The MPs also recommended the creation of a cross-departmental climate change minister who could attend Cabinet meetings.
In addition, the committee said the Government must develop long-term policy frameworks to make sure decisions made today did not hinder future emissions reductions or lead to a failure to deal with the impact of climate change.
This was particularly important in light of the Government's house building plans, the committee warned.
The EAC's chairman Tim Yeo said: "The UK must be equipped to meet both the challenge of a carbon constrained world and the likely climate change impacts that will occur.
"It would be disastrous if bad planning policy meant that today's new developments become tomorrow's climate slums."
He went on: "The Government must ensure there is clear leadership and responsibility for the development and delivery of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies."
"This is particularly important given the large number of bodies involved."
The committee recommended a review of Government action to clarify the responsibility for developing climate change policy. The MPs said a skills shortage in the area among civil servants should be addressed.
"Our recommendations would create a more effective framework for dealing with climate change. However this framework alone will not cut emissions," Mr Yeo said.
"That needs committed leadership by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Government's commitment to sustainable development and climate change will be judged by actions and achievements, not speeches and targets."
Reader views (7)
Can't we just reappoint the Minister for drought like we did in 1976. On the other hand we didn't have a Minister for cold in 1963.
- Bj, London, England
The last thing that Britain needs is more bone idle civil servants sitting around working out ways to squeeze more tax out of us. We need a cull on the existing civil service to make it more efficient rather than the sprawling dinosaur it is at the moment.
- Trevor Roll, London
Oh no, not more jobs for the boys/girls. Let's leave the Planet to sort itself out. It's done a great job for millions of years. Every Politician who has nothing else to say, jumps on the Climate change bandwagon. Frankly I'm fed up with this Save the Planet stuff, it's all sound bites and photo opportunities for the talking heads who want to create more jobs and pensions and committees and more hot air etc, etc. China and India and all of Asia are the emerging giants who are unlikely to listen to a UK Quango or any other committee on how to run their economies. Sorry we are stuck with it, let's accept the rising standards of others living around the world - Mother Nature will ultimately be the final arbitor, Not your smiling do-gooder Politician.
- Colin Bond, London, England
While I do agree that climate change is very serious threat to our planet I do not beleive that another over funded, blundering government department with little or no real influence is the answer. If the government want to do something about climate change I would wish they spent taxpayers' money more effectivly to do so.
- Ben, London
A climate change committee will probably only generate a load more hot air. I trust it will concentrate on actual, practical measures to halt global warming, rather than just sitting around looking for yet more 'green taxes' that serve only as a stick. We need more carrots, but somehow I doubt we'll get them.
- Paul, London
And pay them a couple of hundred grand a year and fly them all over the world I suppose.
- Fly, London
"A powerful new Whitehall body must be established to drive climate change policy"
Complete and utter rubbish. All it will do is consume more tax that would be better off directed at the education system or frontline NHS services.
- Nobby Clark, London
