Climate bill efficacy 'could be blunted by political needs'

The efficacy of planned UK environmental legislation could be reduced by short-term political needs, it has been claimed.

Independent media firm Ethical Corporation (EC) noted the climate change bill forecast to receive its Royal Assent and become law this autumn, completing the path set in place when it was first announced in the Queen's speech in November 2006.

But EC claims the good intentions of the bill may be blunted by the political desire to fund new coal stations and airport expansion, both of which will affect air quality.

These problems are seen by the firm as being more important than the removal of an amendment that would have forced firms to report their carbon emissions.

The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs claims the government is dedicated to addressing the causes and effects of climate change through this new environmental legislation, which it hopes will create a new approach to the management and response to this issue.