Labour leads the way on combating climate change

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has backed new tougher action that the Labour Government announced today to combat the threat of climate change.

Labour's Climate Change Bill will set a long-term legal framework for reducing emissions for the first time. Labour believes that a global deal on climate change will only be possible if Britain plays its part, leading the way with other developed countries.

Diana Johnson MP said: "The Climate Change Bill will make us the first country in the world to put carbon reduction targets into law. We have also shown that action on climate change should have an even stronger voice in Government.

"The appointment of my Labour Colleague Ed Miliband as Britain's first Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change shows our commitment to taking on one of the greatest challenges the world faces.

"Now want our Climate Chance Bill to go further. This summer the Government looked into the long-term target for Britain's emissions to see if it would deliver real action. We have now decided to take tougher action.

"Under Labour, our greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 will not be 60 per cent lower than 1990, but now 80 per cent lower. This decision to set tougher targets to cut harmful emissions is the right one. People in Hull know how severe the consequences could be if not enough is done to counter climate change.

"I am pleased that the Government has taken this action and that target will be set in law. I will support this and vote for it in the House of Commons. As the party that set up the green belts and national parks, Labour has always been the natural party of environmental protection. Today's announcement shows that we still are."