MPs call for climate change minister

A minister for climate change should be appointed to lead Britain's efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions, says a committee of MPs.

The Commons environment, food and rural affairs select committee said that while the prime minister had made tackling climate change a key priority for Britain's presidency of the G8, there was an "absence of clear central direction" in the government's approach.

It complained that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs still lacked the "clout" to be taken seriously by other Whitehall departments when it tried to set a lead on the issue.

The committee's report said: "We are frustrated by the absence of a clear central direction to the government's work on climate change.

"It is imperative that all departments acknowledge both the global importance and urgency of this issue.

"The government is failing to get to grips with encouraging energy efficiency at the household level and has no serious strategy to reduce emissions from transport.

"We acknowledge that the government's objectives and level of commitment to mitigating climate change is clear, but the policy measures thus far implemented to achieve them are currently out of kilter."

The committee goes on to warn the government not to use a review of its climate change programme to "water down" its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact they recommend that ministers should impose even tougher measures.