Committee on Climate Change

In its December 2008 report,  the Committee was asked to advise Government on what the level of the long-term 2050 target for climate change should be. The high-level advice on this was first published in a  letter to Government in October 2008.

The CCC was asked to provide advice on whether to increase the UK’s 2050 emissions reduction from the then current 60% target. In answering the question, the CCC reviewed the scientific evidence, made judgements about unacceptable levels of climate change, and considered the appropriate contribution of the UK to a global deal to reduce emissions.

The Committee advised Government to adopt an ambitious target to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% in 2050. The target should apply across all sectors of the UK economy  and would be achievable at affordable cost of between 1-2 % of GDP in 2050. The Government accepted the Committee’s advice and legislated for this 80% reduction target in the Climate Change Act.

Reducing UK emissions by at least 80%, together with appropriate efforts by other countries, will put the world on a long-term path aimed at limiting global temperatures to around 2°C above pre-industrial levels. A temperature rise much higher than this would have a catastrophic global impact on human welfare and the natural environment.

The CCC also advised that a climate change strategy for the UK should cover all greenhouse gases, including non-CO₂ gases and all sectors including international aviation and shipping.

Meeting the 2050 target will be challenging but feasible based on a range of options for reducing emissions in the period up to 2050 including decarbonisation of the power sector, energy efficiency improvement and transport sector decarbonisation.

To read the Committee’s full advice on the 2050 target, download the chapter from the December 2008 report “Building a low-carbon economy”.