Committee on Climate Change

Good progress has been made in Scotland since 2009 to reduce emissions in order to tackle climate change, according to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). The CCC today published it first progress report on emission reductions in Scotland, as requested by Scottish Ministers under the Climate Change Act (2009).

Emissions fell in Scotland by 7% in 2009, mainly due to the impact of the recession and a reduction in economic output. Emissions are however likely to have risen in 2010, as a result of the cold temperatures at the start and end of 2010, and due to increased economic activity.

Lord Turner today announced that he is standing down as Chair of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) from spring 2012 in order to focus on his role as Chair of the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Lord Turner has been Chair of the Committee since it was set up in 2008, and has been influential in guiding its analysis and in encouraging Government to strengthen its approach to tackling climate change. Since 2010, he has combined this role with his full-time role as Chair of the FSA.

Notable achievements during his time leading the Committee include the acceptance by Government of the CCC’s proposed 2050 target to tackle climate change, the passing of the UK’s first three carbon budgets into legislation (2008) then the fourth budget (2011), and recommendations made on electricity market reform which have been taken forward by Government. 

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has published its first comprehensive analysis of the impact of meeting carbon budgets on household energy bills. The Committee concludes that recent bill increases are primarily due to increased wholesale gas costs. Out to 2020, policies to achieve a low-carbon economy will add around £110 to bills – with scope to offset this if energy efficiency can be improved.

The Committee’s findings therefore disprove often repeated claims that recent bill increases are due to environmental policy costs, and that major investments in low-carbon power capacity will drive dramatic bill increases over the next decade (e.g. as high as £3,000).

Carbon budgets will be very difficult to achieve without the use of bioenergy, and the successful development of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, according to a review of bioenergy by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

The review concludes that a 10% share of bioenergy in total energy could be required to meet the UK’s 2050 emissions target, compared to the current share of 2%. Bioenergy would ideally be used with CCS, which would allow for the removal of carbon from the atmosphere and for higher emissions reductions to be achieved.

A report published today by the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the UK Committee on Climate Change (ASC) finds that over coming decades, Scotland could become increasingly vulnerable to impacts of climate change unless it strengthens measures to adapt.

This first independent assessment finds that the Scottish Government has made good progress in putting in place a strategic and structured approach to adapting Scotland to a changing climate.  They have made a good start in raising awareness of what climate change is likely to mean for people’s health, Scotland’s economy and its internationally important natural heritage. 

However, it will be important that the Scottish Government now builds on these foundations to ensure that its adaptation framework is actively addressing the risks from a changing climate: 

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said today that the UK’s share of international shipping could account for up to 11% of total emissions permitted under the Climate Change Act by 2050 (i.e. 18MtCO₂ of total 160MtCO₂). Given that international shipping emissions are likely to be material, and to have implications for approaches in other sectors, the Committee recommends that these should be included now in the 2050 target, and sets out options for inclusion in carbon budgets.

The Committee also recommends that the Government should work with the EC to gain access to fuel use data from ship operators in order to resolve uncertainties over current emissions, and that the Government should support market based approaches to reducing shipping emissions, ideally global but if not at the EU level.

Emissions from international aviation and shipping are not at present included in carbon budgets or in the UK’s target to reduce emissions in 2050 by 80% below 1990 levels. Under the Climate Change Act, however, Parliament must decide by the end of 2012 whether to include emissions from international aviation and shipping in carbon budgets.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) will today advise the Northern Ireland Environment Minister that legislated emission reduction targets could be helpful to harness the significant opportunities to reduce emissions in Northern Ireland.  

The Committee was asked by Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister to provide advice on whether it is appropriate for Northern Ireland to enact its own climate change legislation, including the introduction of legally binding emissions targets. The 2008 UK Climate Change Act extends to Northern Ireland, requiring Northern Ireland to contribute to overall UK targets to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050. It does not however specify particular targets or budgets for Northern Ireland.

Fresh analysis published by the Committee shows that there is scope to reduce emissions across agriculture, transport, buildings and the public sector by up to 25% from today’s levels in 2020 (i.e. a level consistent with the path to longer term required reductions).

In a report published today, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has highlighted progress made by the Welsh Government towards reducing emissions and preparing for climate change.

One year ago the Welsh Government set out a strategy to achieve its ambitious targets to reduce emissions by 3% annually over the next decade.

The Committee’s report considers latest emissions data, showing that emissions in 2009 fell by around 14% as a result of the recession, and suggests that these are likely to have increased in 2010 due to the cold winter.

The Committee on Climate Change (the Committee) has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change by measuring, managing and reducing its carbon emissions by over 8% over the period from May 2009–May 2011.

The Carbon Trust Standard recognises organisations for real carbon reduction. Based on a rigorous, independent assessment, it certifies that organisations have measured, managed and reduced their carbon emissions across their own operations, and are committed to reducing them year on year.

The Committee achieved the 8% reduction by cutting its carbon footprint for its business emissions from 53.5tCO2e in 2009-10 to 49.1 tCO2e in 2010-11*.

The UK is coping now, but it is near its limits in some key sectors and could be pushed over the edge by climate change. But by preparing now, the UK can reduce the adverse effects of climate change and take advantage of opportunities, according to a new report published today by the Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC).

In the water sector for example, while only 8% of resource zones in England are currently at risk of a supply shortfall in a severe drought, this could increase to around 45% by 2035 without additional investment.

The UK’s vulnerability to climate change is potentially increasing as a result of patterns of building development in some areas and demographic trends.