Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Defra, has announced an expanded role for the Committee on Climate Change, one of a number of amenments made to the Climate Change Bill as it moves through the Committee Stage in the House of Lords. The Committee will be consulted by the Government in a wider range of situations than previously proposed, including whether international aviation and shipping emissions should be included in the Government’s targets and budgets.

A review of the target for a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 has also been made a statutory duty of the Committee. The Government announced a review of the target in 2007, with the Committee to consider, in light of scientific developments, whether this should in fact be 80%. The Committee has been asked to provide its judgement on the 80% target and on the first of the three five-year carbon budgets, by 1 December 2008.