OpenLegislation

Climate Change Act 2008

2008 c. 27 · Enacted 26 November 2008 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 23 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 26 December 2023.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 6 para. 7(3A)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(b)
Sch. 6 para. 28(1)(b)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(i)(ii)
Sch. 6 para. 28(1)words omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(i)(i)
Sch. 6 para. 28 cross-headingwords substitutedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(h)
Sch. 6 para. 27(5)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(g)
Sch. 6 para. 26(2)(a)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(f)
Sch. 6 para. 25(5)(b)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(e)
Sch. 6 para. 24(6)(b)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(d)
Sch. 6 para. 8(2A)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(c)
s. 77(3)(b)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(2)(a)
s. 77(4)(aa)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(2)(b)
s. 98words omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(3)
Sch. 6 para. 4A 4BomittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(a)
s. 70(1)(c)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 385
s. 86 headingwords insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(7)
s. 86(8)words substitutedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(6)
s. 86(7A)(7B)insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(5)
s. 86(3)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(4)(b)
s. 86(3)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(4)(a)
s. 86(2)(b)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(3)(b)
s. 86(2)(a)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(3)(a)
s. 86(1)(b) and wordinsertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(2)(b)
s. 86(1)(a)words renumbered as s. 86(1)(a)Housing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(2)(a)
An Act to set a target for the year 2050 for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions; to provide for a system of carbon budgeting; to establish a Committee on Climate Change; to confer powers to establish trading schemes for the purpose of limiting greenhouse gas emissions or encouraging activities that reduce such emissions or remove greenhouse gas from the atmosphere; to make provision about adaptation to climate change; to confer powers to make schemes for providing financial incentives to produce less domestic waste and to recycle more of what is produced; to make provision about the collection of household waste; to confer powers to make provision about charging for single use carrier bags; to amend the provisions of the Energy Act 2004 about renewable transport fuel obligations; to make provision about carbon emissions reduction targets; to make other provision about climate change; and for connected purposes. 9[26th November 2008]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Carbon target and budgeting
  2. The target for 2050
  3. 1The target for 2050
  4. 2Amendment of 2050 target or baseline year
  5. 3Consultation on order amending 2050 target or baseline year
  6. Carbon budgeting
  7. 4Carbon budgets
  8. 5Level of carbon budgets
  9. 6Amendment of target percentages
  10. 7Consultation on order setting or amending target percentages
  11. 8Setting of carbon budgets for budgetary periods
  12. 9Consultation on carbon budgets
  13. 10Matters to be taken into account in connection with carbon budgets
  14. Limit on use of carbon units
  15. 11Limit on use of carbon units
  16. Indicative annual ranges
  17. 12Duty to provide indicative annual ranges for net UK carbon account
  18. Proposals and policies for meeting carbon budgets
  19. 13Duty to prepare proposals and policies for meeting carbon budgets
  20. 14Duty to report on proposals and policies for meeting carbon budgets
  21. 15Duty to have regard to need for UK domestic action on climate change
  22. Determination whether objectives met
  23. 16Annual statement of UK emissions
  24. 17Powers to carry amounts from one budgetary period to another
  25. 18Final statement for budgetary period
  26. 19Duty to report on proposals and policies for compensating for budget excess
  27. 20Final statement for 2050
  28. Alteration of budgets or budgetary periods
  29. 21Alteration of carbon budgets
  30. 22Consultation on alteration of carbon budgets
  31. 23Alteration of budgetary periods
  32. Targeted greenhouse gases
  33. 24Targeted greenhouse gases
  34. 25Base years for targeted greenhouse gases other than CO2
  35. Carbon units, carbon accounting and the net UK carbon account
  36. 26Carbon units and carbon accounting
  37. 27Net UK carbon account
  38. 28Procedure for regulations under section 26 or 27
  39. Other supplementary provisions
  40. 29UK emissions and removals of greenhouse gases
  41. 30Emissions from international aviation or international shipping
  42. 31Procedure for regulations under section 30
  43. Part 2: The Committee on Climate Change
  44. The Committee
  45. 32The Committee on Climate Change
  46. Functions of the Committee
  47. 33Advice on level of 2050 target
  48. 34Advice in connection with carbon budgets
  49. 35Advice on emissions from international aviation and international shipping
  50. 36Reports on progress
  51. 37Response to Committee's reports on progress
  52. 38Duty to provide advice or other assistance on request
  53. Supplementary provisions
  54. 39General ancillary powers
  55. 40Grants to the Committee
  56. 41Powers to give guidance
  57. 42Powers to give directions
  58. Interpretation
  59. 43Interpretation of Part 2
  60. Part 3: Trading schemes
  61. Trading schemes
  62. 44Trading schemes
  63. 45Activities to which trading schemes may apply
  64. 46Matters that may or must be provided for in regulations
  65. Authorities and regulations
  66. 47Relevant national authorities
  67. 48Procedure for making regulations
  68. 49Further provisions about regulations
  69. Other supplementary provisions
  70. 50Information
  71. 51Powers to give guidance
  72. 52Powers to give directions
  73. 53Grants to administrators and participants
  74. 54Power to make consequential provision
  75. Interpretation
  76. 55Interpretation of Part 3
  77. Part 4: Impact of and adaptation to climate change
  78. National reports and programmes
  79. 56Report on impact of climate change
  80. 57Advice of Committee on Climate Change on impact report
  81. 58Programme for adaptation to climate change
  82. 59Reporting on progress in connection with adaptation
  83. 60Programme for adaptation to climate change: Northern Ireland
  84. Reporting authorities: non-devolved functions
  85. 61Guidance by Secretary of State to reporting authorities
  86. 62Directions by Secretary of State to prepare reports
  87. 63Compliance with Secretary of State's directions
  88. 64Consent of, or consultation with, devolved authorities
  89. 65Report on exercise of power to give directions
  90. Reporting authorities: devolved Welsh functions
  91. 66Guidance by Welsh Ministers to reporting authorities
  92. 67Directions by Welsh Ministers to prepare reports
  93. 68Compliance with Welsh Ministers' directions
  94. 69Consent of, or consultation with, Secretary of State
  95. Interpretation
  96. 70Interpretation
  97. Part 5: Other provisions
  98. Waste reduction schemes
  99. 71Waste reduction schemes
  100. 72Waste reduction provisions: piloting Repealed
  101. 73Waste reduction provisions: report and review Repealed
  102. 74Waste reduction provisions: interim report Repealed
  103. 75Waste reduction provisions: roll-out or repeal Repealed
  104. Collection of household waste
  105. 76Collection of household waste
  106. Charges for single use carrier bagscarrier bags
  107. 77Charges for single use carrier bagscarrier bags
  108. Renewable transport fuel obligations
  109. 78Renewable transport fuel obligations
  110. Carbon emissions reduction targets
  111. 79Carbon emissions reduction targets
  112. Miscellaneous
  113. 80Report on climate change: Wales
  114. 81Climate change measures reports in Wales Not yet in force
  115. 82Repeal of previous reporting obligation
  116. 83Guidance on reporting
  117. 84Report on contribution of reporting to climate change objectives
  118. 85Regulations about reporting by companies
  119. 86Report on the civil estate
  120. 87Power of Ministers and departments to offset greenhouse gas emissions
  121. 88Fines for offences relating to pollution
  122. Part 6: General supplementary provisions
  123. Territorial scope of provisions relating to greenhouse gas emissions
  124. 89Territorial scope of provisions relating to greenhouse gas emissions
  125. Orders and regulations
  126. 90Orders and regulations
  127. 91Affirmative and negative resolution procedure
  128. Interpretation
  129. 92Meaning of “greenhouse gas”
  130. 93Measurement of emissions etc by reference to carbon dioxide equivalent
  131. 94Meaning of “international carbon reporting practice”
  132. 95Meaning of “national authority”
  133. 96Meaning of “relevant Northern Ireland department”
  134. 97Minor definitions
  135. 98Index of defined expressions
  136. Final provisions
  137. 99Extent
  138. 100Commencement
  139. 101Short title
  140. Schedule 1: The Committee on Climate Change
  141. Membership
  142. 1Paragraph 1
  143. 2Paragraph 2
  144. Term of office
  145. 3Paragraph 3
  146. 4Paragraph 4
  147. 5Paragraph 5
  148. 6Paragraph 6
  149. 7Paragraph 7
  150. Remuneration and pensions etc
  151. 8Paragraph 8
  152. 9Paragraph 9
  153. 10Paragraph 10
  154. Staff
  155. 11Paragraph 11
  156. 12Paragraph 12
  157. 13Paragraph 13
  158. 14Paragraph 14
  159. Sub-committees
  160. 15Paragraph 15
  161. The Adaptation Sub-Committee
  162. 16Paragraph 16
  163. Proceedings
  164. 17Paragraph 17
  165. 18Paragraph 18
  166. 19Paragraph 19
  167. Discharge of functions
  168. 20Paragraph 20
  169. Application of seal and proof of documents
  170. 21Paragraph 21
  171. Reports and accounts
  172. 22Paragraph 22
  173. 23Paragraph 23
  174. 24Paragraph 24
  175. Information
  176. 25Paragraph 25
  177. Publication of advice etc
  178. 26Paragraph 26
  179. Status
  180. 27Paragraph 27
  181. Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
  182. 28Paragraph 28
  183. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
  184. 29Paragraph 29
  185. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  186. 30Paragraph 30
  187. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  188. 31Paragraph 31
  189. Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74)
  190. 32Paragraph 32
  191. Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)
  192. 33Paragraph 33
  193. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11)
  194. 34Paragraph 34
  195. Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 (c. 10)
  196. 35Paragraph 35
  197. Schedule 2: Trading schemes
  198. Part 1: Schemes limiting activities
  199. Introductory
  200. 1Paragraph 1
  201. Trading periods
  202. 2Paragraph 2
  203. Activities
  204. 3Paragraph 3
  205. Participants
  206. 4Paragraph 4
  207. Allocation of allowances
  208. 5Paragraph 5
  209. Use of allowances
  210. 6Paragraph 6
  211. Credits
  212. 7Paragraph 7
  213. Payments
  214. 8Paragraph 8
  215. Trading
  216. 9Paragraph 9
  217. Permits
  218. 10Paragraph 10
  219. Units under other schemes
  220. 11Paragraph 11
  221. Part 2: Schemes encouraging activities
  222. Introductory
  223. 12Paragraph 12
  224. Trading periods
  225. 13Paragraph 13
  226. Activities
  227. 14Paragraph 14
  228. Participants
  229. 15Paragraph 15
  230. Targets and obligations
  231. 16Paragraph 16
  232. Certificates
  233. 17Paragraph 17
  234. Payments
  235. 18Paragraph 18
  236. Trading
  237. 19Paragraph 19
  238. Units under other schemes
  239. 20Paragraph 20
  240. Part 3: Administration and enforcement
  241. The administrator
  242. 21Paragraph 21
  243. Information
  244. 22Paragraph 22
  245. Registers
  246. 23Paragraph 23
  247. Publication of information
  248. 24Paragraph 24
  249. Acquisition of units by the administrator
  250. 25Paragraph 25
  251. Charges
  252. 26Paragraph 26
  253. Monitoring compliance
  254. 27Paragraph 27
  255. Enforcement
  256. 28Paragraph 28
  257. Penalties
  258. 29Paragraph 29
  259. Offences
  260. 30Paragraph 30
  261. Appeals
  262. 31Paragraph 31
  263. Schedule 3: Trading schemes regulations: further provisions
  264. Part 1: Regulations made by a single national authority
  265. 1Paragraph 1
  266. 2Paragraph 2
  267. 3Paragraph 3
  268. 4Paragraph 4
  269. Part 2: Regulations made by two or more national authorities
  270. 5Paragraph 5
  271. 6Paragraph 6
  272. 7Paragraph 7
  273. 8Paragraph 8
  274. Part 3: Power to make provision by Order in Council
  275. 9Paragraph 9
  276. 10Paragraph 10
  277. 11Paragraph 11
  278. 12Paragraph 12
  279. 13Paragraph 13
  280. Schedule 4: Trading schemes: powers to require information
  281. Introductory
  282. 1Paragraph 1
  283. Information from electricity suppliers and distributors
  284. 2Paragraph 2
  285. Information from potential participants in a trading scheme
  286. 3Paragraph 3
  287. Requirements for a valid notice
  288. 4Paragraph 4
  289. Failure to comply with notice etc an offence
  290. 5Paragraph 5
  291. Disclosure of information
  292. 6Paragraph 6
  293. Schedule 5: Waste reduction schemes Repealed
  294. Part 1: Main provisions Repealed
  295. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  296. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  297. Part 2: Consequential amendments Repealed
  298. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  299. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  300. Schedule 6: Charges for single use carrier bagscarrier bags
  301. Part 1: Powers to make regulations about charges
  302. General power
  303. 1Paragraph 1
  304. Requirement to charge
  305. 2Paragraph 2
  306. 2AParagraph 2A
  307. Sellers of goods
  308. 3Paragraph 3
  309. Amount of charge
  310. 4Paragraph 4
  311. 4ADestination of proceeds – Wales
  312. 4AParagraph 4A
  313. 4BInterpretation of paragraph 4A
  314. Single use carrier bagsCarrier bags
  315. 5Paragraph 5
  316. Administration
  317. 6Paragraph 6
  318. Registration
  319. 6AParagraph 6A
  320. Record-keeping and publication of records
  321. 7Paragraph 7
  322. Enforcement
  323. 8Paragraph 8
  324. Part 2: Civil sanctions
  325. Civil sanctions
  326. 9Paragraph 9
  327. Fixed monetary penalties
  328. 10Paragraph 10
  329. Fixed monetary penalties: procedure
  330. 11Paragraph 11
  331. Discretionary requirements
  332. 12Paragraph 12
  333. Discretionary requirements: procedure
  334. 13Paragraph 13
  335. Discretionary requirements: enforcement
  336. 14Paragraph 14
  337. Combination of sanctions
  338. 15Paragraph 15
  339. Monetary penalties
  340. 16Paragraph 16
  341. Costs recovery
  342. 17Paragraph 17
  343. Appeals
  344. 18Paragraph 18
  345. Publicity for imposition of civil sanctions
  346. 19Paragraph 19
  347. Persons liable to civil sanctions
  348. 20Paragraph 20
  349. Guidance as to use of civil sanctions
  350. 21Paragraph 21
  351. Publication of enforcement action
  352. 22Paragraph 22
  353. Compliance with regulatory principles
  354. 23Paragraph 23
  355. Review
  356. 24Paragraph 24
  357. Suspension
  358. 25Paragraph 25
  359. Payment of penalties into Consolidated Fund
  360. 26Paragraph 26
  361. Part 3: Procedures applying to regulations
  362. Regulations made by a single authority
  363. 27Paragraph 27
  364. Regulations made by two or more national authorities
  365. 28Paragraph 28
  366. Hybrid instruments
  367. 29Paragraph 29
  368. Schedule 7: Renewable transport fuel obligations
  369. Introductory
  370. 1Paragraph 1
  371. The Administrator
  372. 2Paragraph 2
  373. Determination of amounts of transport fuel
  374. 3Paragraph 3
  375. Discharge of obligation by payment
  376. 4Paragraph 4
  377. Civil penalties
  378. 5Paragraph 5
  379. Disclosure of information
  380. 6Paragraph 6
  381. Interpretation
  382. 7Paragraph 7
  383. Schedule 8: Carbon emissions reduction targets
  384. Gas Act 1986 (c. 44)
  385. 1Paragraph 1
  386. Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)
  387. 2Paragraph 2
  388. 3Paragraph 3
  389. 4Paragraph 4
  390. 5Paragraph 5
  391. Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27)
  392. 6Paragraph 6