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Climate Change Act 2008
Climate Change Act 2008
The Climate Change Act 2008 provides a legally binding framework to tackle the dangers of climate change. The Act extends throughout the UK.
The Climate Change Bill was introduced into Parliament on 14 November 2007. On 10 December 2007 the Northern Ireland Assembly granted legislative consent to the extension of its provisions to Northern Ireland. It became law on 26 November 2008. Copies of the Climate Change Act 2008 can be obtained via the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI): UK Statute Law Database here 
Key provisions of the Act
- A legally binding target of at least an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be achieved through action in the UK and abroad. There is also a target to reduce emissions by 34% in 2020 (on 1990 levels).
- A carbon budgeting system which caps emissions over five year periods, with three budgets set at a time, to set out our trajectory to 2050. The first three carbon budgets will run from 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22, and had to be set by 1 June 2009. The Government must report to Parliament its policies and proposals to meet the budgets as soon as practical after that.
- The creation of the Committee on Climate Change, a new independent, expert body to advise Government on the level of carbon budgets and where cost effective savings can be made. The Committee will submit annual reports to Parliament on the UK’s progress towards targets and budgets. The Government must respond to these annual reports, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability on an annual basis. More details on the Committee can be found here
- International aviation and shipping emissions – the Government will include international aviation and shipping emissions in the Act or explain to Parliament why it has not done so by 31 December 2012. The Committee on Climate Change is required to advise the Government on the consequences of including emissions from international aviation and shipping in the Act’s targets and budgets. Projected emissions from international aviation and shipping must be taken into account in making decisions on carbon budgets.
- Use of International credits – Government is required to “have regard to the need for UK domestic action on climate change” when considering how to meet the UK’s targets and carbon budgets. The independent Committee on Climate Change has a duty to advise on the appropriate balance between action at domestic, European and international level, for each carbon budget. The Government, taking into account the Committee’s advice, is required to set a limit on the purchase of credits for each budgetary period, by secondary legislation requiring debate in both Houses of Parliament.
- On adaptation the Government must report at least every five years on the risks to the UK of climate change, and publish a programme setting out how these impacts will be addressed.
- An Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change, in order to provide advice to and scrutiny of the Government’s adaptation work.
- A requirement for the Government to issue guidance by 1 October 2009 on the way companies should report their greenhouse gas emissions, and to review the contribution reporting could make to emissions reductions by 1 December 2010. Requirement also that the Government must, by 6 April 2012, use powers under the Companies Act to mandate reporting, or explain to Parliament why it has not done so.
Timeline of Key events
1 December 2008: Committee on Climate Change established as an independent body.
1 December 2008: Committee on Climate Change provides advice to Government on the level of the first three carbon budgets and its full review of the 2050 targets – see the CCC website for further details here
22 April 2009: Government announces proposals for the level of the first three carbon budgets alongside the (fiscal) Budget.
1 June 2009: deadline for Government to set the first three carbon budgets through secondary legislation agreed by both Houses of Parliament.
Summer 2009: Government will set out policies and proposals to meet the first three carbon budgets as part of its Climate & Energy Strategy that will be laid before Parliament before the summer recess.
Key documents
Previous key documents relating to the Climate Change Act 2008 can be accessed here
UK CARBON BUDGETS
The UK government announced on 22 April, alongside the fiscal budget, its intentions regarding the first UK carbon budgets which are designed to put the UK on the right trajectory to meet targets under the Climate Change Act 2008. Full details of the carbon budget can be found on HM Treasury website here
The UK government consulted with the Devolved Administrations in coming to its decision. A copy of the letter issued by the DOE Minister to UK Ministers, following discussions within the NI Executive, can be viewed here - Minister's Letter (60Kb) 
The UK government will continue to engage with the Devolved Administrations in preparing policies and proposals to reflect the new carbon budgets. A comprehensive strategy statement reflecting all of this will be laid before Parliament in the summer.
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Climate Change Act 2008
The Climate Change Act 2008 provides a legally binding framework to tackle the dangers of climate change. The Act extends throughout the UK.
The Climate Change Bill was introduced into Parliament on 14 November 2007. On 10 December 2007 the Northern Ireland Assembly granted legislative consent to the extension of its provisions to Northern Ireland. It became law on 26 November 2008. Copies of the Climate Change Act 2008 can be obtained via the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI): UK Statute Law Database here
Key provisions of the Act
- A legally binding target of at least an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be achieved through action in the UK and abroad. There is also a target to reduce emissions by 34% in 2020 (on 1990 levels).
- A carbon budgeting system which caps emissions over five year periods, with three budgets set at a time, to set out our trajectory to 2050. The first three carbon budgets will run from 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22, and had to be set by 1 June 2009. The Government must report to Parliament its policies and proposals to meet the budgets as soon as practical after that.
- The creation of the Committee on Climate Change, a new independent, expert body to advise Government on the level of carbon budgets and where cost effective savings can be made. The Committee will submit annual reports to Parliament on the UK’s progress towards targets and budgets. The Government must respond to these annual reports, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability on an annual basis. More details on the Committee can be found here
- International aviation and shipping emissions – the Government will include international aviation and shipping emissions in the Act or explain to Parliament why it has not done so by 31 December 2012. The Committee on Climate Change is required to advise the Government on the consequences of including emissions from international aviation and shipping in the Act’s targets and budgets. Projected emissions from international aviation and shipping must be taken into account in making decisions on carbon budgets.
- Use of International credits – Government is required to “have regard to the need for UK domestic action on climate change” when considering how to meet the UK’s targets and carbon budgets. The independent Committee on Climate Change has a duty to advise on the appropriate balance between action at domestic, European and international level, for each carbon budget. The Government, taking into account the Committee’s advice, is required to set a limit on the purchase of credits for each budgetary period, by secondary legislation requiring debate in both Houses of Parliament.
- On adaptation the Government must report at least every five years on the risks to the UK of climate change, and publish a programme setting out how these impacts will be addressed.
- An Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change, in order to provide advice to and scrutiny of the Government’s adaptation work.
- A requirement for the Government to issue guidance by 1 October 2009 on the way companies should report their greenhouse gas emissions, and to review the contribution reporting could make to emissions reductions by 1 December 2010. Requirement also that the Government must, by 6 April 2012, use powers under the Companies Act to mandate reporting, or explain to Parliament why it has not done so.
Timeline of Key events
1 December 2008: Committee on Climate Change established as an independent body.
1 December 2008: Committee on Climate Change provides advice to Government on the level of the first three carbon budgets and its full review of the 2050 targets – see the CCC website for further details here
22 April 2009: Government announces proposals for the level of the first three carbon budgets alongside the (fiscal) Budget.
1 June 2009: deadline for Government to set the first three carbon budgets through secondary legislation agreed by both Houses of Parliament.
Summer 2009: Government will set out policies and proposals to meet the first three carbon budgets as part of its Climate & Energy Strategy that will be laid before Parliament before the summer recess.
Key documents
Previous key documents relating to the Climate Change Act 2008 can be accessed here
UK CARBON BUDGETS
The UK government announced on 22 April, alongside the fiscal budget, its intentions regarding the first UK carbon budgets which are designed to put the UK on the right trajectory to meet targets under the Climate Change Act 2008. Full details of the carbon budget can be found on HM Treasury website here
The UK government consulted with the Devolved Administrations in coming to its decision. A copy of the letter issued by the DOE Minister to UK Ministers, following discussions within the NI Executive, can be viewed here - Minister's Letter (60Kb)
The UK government will continue to engage with the Devolved Administrations in preparing policies and proposals to reflect the new carbon budgets. A comprehensive strategy statement reflecting all of this will be laid before Parliament in the summer.
