Oral - Climate Change Bill

Last November, I issued a written statement welcoming the publication of the Climate Change Bill, and acknowledged the positive step that the Bill represents in the fight to tackle climate change. In January, I was pleased to announce the appointment of Lord Adair Turner as the chair designate of the UK Committee on Climate Change. In my written statement, I noted how Lord Turner’s significant experience both in business and in leading high-profile advisory bodies to Government will ensure that the committee establishes its independence and the credibility of its advice from the very start. As I reported in April, I was delighted to welcome Lord Turner to Wales and to have the opportunity to discuss the work of the UK climate change committee with him and members of the Climate Change Commission for Wales. Regrettably, however, last week I was informed that he would be stepping down from this role at the end of the year to chair the Financial Services Authority. I will, of course, keep you informed as to his successor.

I was also pleased, in January, to have the opportunity to discuss the Bill with the Sustainability Committee. I drew the recommendations arising from that session to the attention of the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, the Secretary of State for the Environment, expressing my support for them and I have received a positive response from him, which I have shared with the committee Chair. Today, I intend to report on the progress of the Climate Change Bill through Parliament. The Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords on 31 March, and we expect that the Bill will be considered by the House of Commons shortly, although the date for the Second Reading is still to be confirmed at present. The Assembly Government worked alongside the UK Government as the Bill progressed through the House of Lords. My officials worked closely with their colleagues in the UK Government and other devolved administrations. The Bill is an extremely positive example of joint working across the four administrations.

We have taken the opportunity provided by the Climate Change Bill to introduce a number of provisions in relation to Wales. I have mentioned some of them previously: for example, a clause has been introduced requiring Welsh Ministers to lay before the Assembly a report on their objectives, actions and priorities in relation to greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change in Wales. During the passage of the Bill through the House of Lords, an amendment was introduced which provides Welsh Ministers with express powers to produce guidance for public bodies on adapting to the impacts of climate change and to require public bodies to produce a report on an assessment of the current and predicted impacts of climate change in relation to the authority’s function, a statement of the authority’s proposals and policies for adapting to climate change in the exercise of its functions, and an assessment of the progress made by the authority towards implementing the proposals and policies set out in its previous reports.

These new powers will enable the Assembly Government to provide improved support to public authorities on climate change adaptation, and provide a mechanism to require action if a public body is not taking proper account of the action needed..
During the passage of the Bill in the House of Lords, a number of amendments were agreed by Peers. For example, a provision was added to the Bill that sets up an adaptation sub-committee to provide scrutiny of the UK adaptation programme. We are currently engaging with the UK Government and other devolved administrations in considering the implication of some of these amendments in preparation for consideration of the Bill by the House of Commons. Assembly Government officials are also participating in the analytical and policy working groups that are supporting the establishment of the committee, and a member of Assembly Government staff has been seconded to the secretariat to the committee. In appointing the committee, the UK Government and devolved administrations must have regard to the desirability of the committee’s having expertise in the differences in circumstances in different parts of the UK and the committee must also consider these differences in making its advice.

I had the opportunity to explore some of the challenges and opportunities here in Wales when I met Lord Turner in March, and I know that Lord Turner has reflected these issues in his subsequent comments on the work of the committee. Prior to the Bill receiving Royal Assent, a shadow committee has been appointed so that the committee can begin its work. Scientists Sir Brian Hoskins and Lord Robert May, technologist Professor Jim Skea and economists Dr Sam Fankhauser and Professor Michael Grubb have been appointed to the committee, alongside Lord Turner. All the appointments are made jointly by the UK Government and the devolved administrations, and an Assembly Government official has represented the devolved administrations on the public appointment panels for the chair and the committee members. Further appointments are currently under way to ensure that the committee has the breadth of skills and experience that it needs to carry out its role effectively.

I am heartened by the Climate Change Bill’s progression through Parliament, and particularly by the introduction of a number of provisions specific to Wales, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring that we are playing our full part in the fight against climate change. The Bill is now due to be considered by the House of Commons this summer, with the aim of achieving Royal Assent in the autumn.