Katy Clark MP

Katy Clark signing one of the many Early Day Motions which have been laid down in Parliament calling for action to prevent climate change.

Katy Clark MP for North Ayrshire and Arran has welcomed the publication of the Climate Change Bill which for the first time will set targets to reduce carbon emissions. The UK is the first country in the world to bring forward a Bill to cut CO2 emissions to tackle climate change. The Bill has a target of reducing the UK's CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050. Since the publication of the Bill the Government have announced they will review this target to see if it should be stronger still and in particular whether the target should be increased to 80%.

Katy said “Climate change is widely accepted as one of the greatest threats we face and there is a broad consensus that we need to take urgent action. I am supporting amendments to the Climate Change Bill which will raise the target of cutting CO2 emissions to 80% by 2050. I am also supporting amendments which will set annual targets for CO2 emission and specific targets for shipping and aviation."

The Energy Bill will shortly be discussed in the House of Commons and Katy is supporting amendments which will introduce ”feed-in tariffs". Feed-in tariffs have been used very successfully in many parts of Europe to encourage the development of renewable energy by householders and businesses. It allows householders who create excess electricity from renewable energy such as a wind turbine or solar panel or a business which generates its own electricity to sell any excess to the grid.

Katy is also supporting amendments to the Energy Bill to tackle fuel poverty. These amendments will require energy suppliers to offer their customers "social tariffs" to ensure that pensioners and those of low incomes get cheaper energy.