The Climate Change Act ("CCA") was passed in 2008 and is the primary legislation that governs the UK's legally binding national commitment to reduce emissions. It commits current, and future, governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. The CCA establishes the Climate Change Committee, who are responsible for setting a national carbon budget every five years, that puts the country on a pathway to achieve the 2050 target. Each five yearly budget, once accepted by the government, forms a legally binding target for emissions from energy generation (across heat, electricity and transport) and other sources for that period.
The government has adopted the first four carbon budgets, through 2027, which set out a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2025. Following the advice from the Climate Change Committee in November 2015, the government is currently in the process of establishing the fifth carbon budget, defining the period from 2028 - 2033, which must be adopted not later than 30th June in the 12th year before the beginning of the period in question (2016).
Region / Country: United Kingdom
