In early June national legislators from over 70 parliaments met in Mexico to discuss the role national climate change legislation can play in a future global deal.
The meeting was timely as national climate legislation continues to develop apace.
For example, this month both Denmark and Finland have adopted new climate change laws.
Both countries Climate Change Acts are modelled closely on the UK’s: they commit to legally binding targets (e.g. Denmark to a 40% reduction by 2020 on 1990 levels, and Finland to at least 80% by 2050) and create independent expert committees to advise the Government on climate change strategy.
Such national laws were the focus of the summit in Mexico run by GLOBE, an international organisation of national parliamentarians.
The aim of the summit was to promote the role of national legislation as part of a comprehensive “bottom-up” response to climate change, and as a platform towards agreeing a global deal at the 2015 UN conference in Paris.
The summit ended with a resolution that called on national governments to review national legislations to ensure they are consistent with the goal of limiting global temperature increase to 2°C, to strengthen legislative responses (including consideration of carbon pricing), and to hold national debates on contributions to emission reductions leading up to the Paris conference in 2015.
We have noted previously, most recently in our review of the fourth carbon budget, that the UK is not acting alone. These recent developments are further evidence of others’ actions, providing an improved basis for agreeing an ambitious global deal.
More information at:
Denmark – http://www.kebmin.dk/en/news/helveg-denmark-is-taking-responsibility-the-climate
Finland – http://www.ym.fi/fi-FI/Ajankohtaista/Valtioneuvosto_hyvaksyi_esityksen_ilmast(29798)
Globe – www.globeinternational.org
This blog was written by Owen Bellamy, Senior Analyst, CCC.
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