Queen’s speech highlights climate goals

Submitted by: The Two Sides Team June 9, 2014

Supermarket plastic bags to carry a surcharge.

In her recent speech at the state opening of Parliament, the Queen identified zero-carbon homes, a plastic bag fee and other environmental policy goals for the UK government.

The Queen’s Speech sets the legislative agenda for the year. Included in this is legislation to “enable all new homes to be built to a zero carbon standard.” The bill, however, would not apply to small housing developments and would allow builders to pay a fee in lieu of meeting the standard, the Guardian reports.

The Queen also introduced a new 5p charge on plastic bags “to help protect the environment” and said the government would “champion” an international climate agreement.

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