MPs call for climate change minister

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Oct 29, 2007, 8:42 GMT

A file picture dated 24 May 2007 shows the sunset on a wind farm near Haringvliet lake in the Netherlands. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

(M&C) - A committee of MPs has called for a cabinet rank climate change minister as head of a cross-departmental coordinating authority to better focus the government's global warming policies.

The Environmental Audit Committee proposed the setting up of a new coordinating body after criticising the government's sometimes haphazard approach to the problem over the last decade.

"The way the government has addressed climate change has led to a confusing framework that doesn't promote effective action to cut emissions," said Tim Yeo, chairman of the all-party committee.

"A new and authoritative body should be created within government, in the Cabinet Office, to drive forward policy and diminish the potential for conflicting objectives," he added.

The House of Commons environment watchdog committee said the new secretariat should be centralised and its minister given the ability to work across all government departments.

The committee also said it was concerned by reports that Britain wouldn't meet its carbon emission reduction committment of 20 percent by 2020 thereby undermining the country's leadership in reducing greenhouse gases.

Mr Yeo said the proposed cross-departmental coordinating body would ensure sound policy decisions were made with the effect on carbon emissions in mind.

"The UK must be equipped to meet both the challenge of a carbon constrained world and the likely climate change impacts that will occur," he said.

"It would be disastrous if bad planning policy meant that today's new housing developments become tomorrow's "climate slums."