Committee on Climate Change

The UK is unique in being the only country around the world that has introduced a long-term legally binding framework to tackle the dangers of climate change. The Climate Change Act received Royal Assent on 26 November 2008. This Act provides a legal framework for ensuring that Government meets its commitments to tackle climate change. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) was set up as an independent body as part of the Act.

The Act requires that emissions are reduced by at least 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. The 2050 target was raised to 80% from 60% following recommendations set out by the CCC in a

letter to Secretary of State Ed Miliband in October 2008.

The Act also introduces legally binding carbon budgets, which will set a ceiling on the levels of greenhouse gases that can be emitted into the atmosphere. The CCC’s first report “Building a low-carbon economy” advises on the level of these budgets for the first three five year periods.

The CCC will monitor and report back to Parliament annually on progress made by Government in meeting carbon budgets. The CCC will publish its first progress report in September 2009.

• A UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) is to be conducted every 5 years. The first CCRA will report in January 2012.
• A National Adaptation Programme must be put in place and reviewed every five years to address the most pressing climate change risks to England. The first Programme will be published in 2012.
• The Government has the power to require public authorities and statutory undertakers (including the utilities) to report on how they have assessed the risks of climate change to their work, and what they are doing to address these risks. The first tranche of reports from public bodies and infrastructure providers will are happening between now and 2011 – 2012.