OpenLegislation

Climate Change Act 2008 in Scotland

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
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)
Sch. 6 para. 7(3A)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(b)
Sch. 6 para. 27(5)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(g)
Sch. 6 para. 8(2A)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(c)
Sch. 6 para. 24(6)(b)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(d)
Sch. 6 para. 25(5)(b)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(e)
Sch. 6 para. 26(2)(a)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(f)
Sch. 6 para. 28(1)words omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(i)(i)
Sch. 6 para. 28(1)(b)omittedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(i)(ii)
Sch. 6 para. 28 cross-headingwords substitutedEnvironment (Wales) Act 2016 Sch. 2 para. 12(4)(h)
s. 70(1)(c)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 385
s. 86(1)(a)words renumbered as s. 86(1)(a)Housing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(2)(a)
s. 86(1)(b) and wordinsertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(2)(b)
s. 86(2)(a)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(3)(a)
s. 86(2)(b)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(3)(b)
s. 86 headingwords insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(7)
s. 86(3)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(4)(b)
s. 86(7A)(7B)insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(5)
s. 86(8)words substitutedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(6)
s. 86(3)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 s. 211(4)(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. 71Waste reduction schemes
  99. 72Waste reduction provisions: piloting Repealed
  100. 73Waste reduction provisions: report and review Repealed
  101. 74Waste reduction provisions: interim report Repealed
  102. 75Waste reduction provisions: roll-out or repeal Repealed
  103. 76Collection of household waste
  104. 77Charges for single use carrier bagscarrier bags
  105. Renewable transport fuel obligations
  106. 78Renewable transport fuel obligations
  107. Carbon emissions reduction targets
  108. 79Carbon emissions reduction targets
  109. Miscellaneous
  110. 80Report on climate change: Wales
  111. 82Repeal of previous reporting obligation
  112. 83Guidance on reporting
  113. 84Report on contribution of reporting to climate change objectives
  114. 85Regulations about reporting by companies
  115. 86Report on the civil estate
  116. 87Power of Ministers and departments to offset greenhouse gas emissions
  117. Part 6: General supplementary provisions
  118. Territorial scope of provisions relating to greenhouse gas emissions
  119. 89Territorial scope of provisions relating to greenhouse gas emissions
  120. Orders and regulations
  121. 90Orders and regulations
  122. 91Affirmative and negative resolution procedure
  123. Interpretation
  124. 92Meaning of “greenhouse gas”
  125. 93Measurement of emissions etc by reference to carbon dioxide equivalent
  126. 94Meaning of “international carbon reporting practice”
  127. 95Meaning of “national authority”
  128. 96Meaning of “relevant Northern Ireland department”
  129. 97Minor definitions
  130. 98Index of defined expressions
  131. Final provisions
  132. 99Extent
  133. 100Commencement
  134. 101Short title
  135. Schedule 1: The Committee on Climate Change
  136. Membership
  137. 1Paragraph 1
  138. 2Paragraph 2
  139. Term of office
  140. 3Paragraph 3
  141. 4Paragraph 4
  142. 5Paragraph 5
  143. 6Paragraph 6
  144. 7Paragraph 7
  145. Remuneration and pensions etc
  146. 8Paragraph 8
  147. 9Paragraph 9
  148. 10Paragraph 10
  149. Staff
  150. 11Paragraph 11
  151. 12Paragraph 12
  152. 13Paragraph 13
  153. 14Paragraph 14
  154. Sub-committees
  155. 15Paragraph 15
  156. The Adaptation Sub-Committee
  157. 16Paragraph 16
  158. Proceedings
  159. 17Paragraph 17
  160. 18Paragraph 18
  161. 19Paragraph 19
  162. Discharge of functions
  163. 20Paragraph 20
  164. Application of seal and proof of documents
  165. Reports and accounts
  166. 22Paragraph 22
  167. 23Paragraph 23
  168. 24Paragraph 24
  169. Information
  170. 25Paragraph 25
  171. Publication of advice etc
  172. 26Paragraph 26
  173. Status
  174. 27Paragraph 27
  175. Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
  176. 28Paragraph 28
  177. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
  178. 29Paragraph 29
  179. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  180. 30Paragraph 30
  181. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  182. 31Paragraph 31
  183. Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74)
  184. 32Paragraph 32
  185. Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)
  186. 33Paragraph 33
  187. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11)
  188. 34Paragraph 34
  189. Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 (c. 10)
  190. 35Paragraph 35
  191. Schedule 2: Trading schemes
  192. Part 1: Schemes limiting activities
  193. Introductory
  194. 1Paragraph 1
  195. Trading periods
  196. 2Paragraph 2
  197. Activities
  198. 3Paragraph 3
  199. Participants
  200. 4Paragraph 4
  201. Allocation of allowances
  202. 5Paragraph 5
  203. Use of allowances
  204. 6Paragraph 6
  205. Credits
  206. 7Paragraph 7
  207. Payments
  208. 8Paragraph 8
  209. Trading
  210. 9Paragraph 9
  211. Permits
  212. 10Paragraph 10
  213. Units under other schemes
  214. 11Paragraph 11
  215. Part 2: Schemes encouraging activities
  216. Introductory
  217. 12Paragraph 12
  218. Trading periods
  219. 13Paragraph 13
  220. Activities
  221. 14Paragraph 14
  222. Participants
  223. 15Paragraph 15
  224. Targets and obligations
  225. 16Paragraph 16
  226. Certificates
  227. 17Paragraph 17
  228. Payments
  229. 18Paragraph 18
  230. Trading
  231. 19Paragraph 19
  232. Units under other schemes
  233. 20Paragraph 20
  234. Part 3: Administration and enforcement
  235. The administrator
  236. 21Paragraph 21
  237. Information
  238. 22Paragraph 22
  239. Registers
  240. 23Paragraph 23
  241. Publication of information
  242. 24Paragraph 24
  243. Acquisition of units by the administrator
  244. 25Paragraph 25
  245. Charges
  246. 26Paragraph 26
  247. Monitoring compliance
  248. 27Paragraph 27
  249. Enforcement
  250. 28Paragraph 28
  251. Penalties
  252. 29Paragraph 29
  253. Offences
  254. 30Paragraph 30
  255. Appeals
  256. 31Paragraph 31
  257. Schedule 3: Trading schemes regulations: further provisions
  258. Part 1: Regulations made by a single national authority
  259. 1Paragraph 1
  260. 2Paragraph 2
  261. 3Paragraph 3
  262. 4Paragraph 4
  263. Part 2: Regulations made by two or more national authorities
  264. 5Paragraph 5
  265. 6Paragraph 6
  266. 7Paragraph 7
  267. 8Paragraph 8
  268. Part 3: Power to make provision by Order in Council
  269. 9Paragraph 9
  270. 10Paragraph 10
  271. 11Paragraph 11
  272. 12Paragraph 12
  273. 13Paragraph 13
  274. Schedule 4: Trading schemes: powers to require information
  275. Introductory
  276. 1Paragraph 1
  277. Information from electricity suppliers and distributors
  278. 2Paragraph 2
  279. Information from potential participants in a trading scheme
  280. 3Paragraph 3
  281. Requirements for a valid notice
  282. 4Paragraph 4
  283. Failure to comply with notice etc an offence
  284. 5Paragraph 5
  285. Disclosure of information
  286. 6Paragraph 6
  287. Part 1: Main provisions Repealed
  288. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  289. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  290. Part 2: Consequential amendments Repealed
  291. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  292. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  293. Part 1: Powers to make regulations about charges
  294. General power
  295. 1Paragraph 1
  296. Requirement to charge
  297. 2Paragraph 2
  298. 2AParagraph 2A
  299. Sellers of goods
  300. 3Paragraph 3
  301. Amount of charge
  302. 4Paragraph 4
  303. 4ADestination of proceeds – Wales
  304. 4AParagraph 4A
  305. 4BInterpretation of paragraph 4A
  306. Single use carrier bagsCarrier bags
  307. 5Paragraph 5
  308. Administration
  309. 6Paragraph 6
  310. Registration
  311. 6AParagraph 6A
  312. Record-keeping and publication of records
  313. 7Paragraph 7
  314. Enforcement
  315. 8Paragraph 8
  316. Part 2: Civil sanctions
  317. Civil sanctions
  318. 9Paragraph 9
  319. Fixed monetary penalties
  320. 10Paragraph 10
  321. Fixed monetary penalties: procedure
  322. 11Paragraph 11
  323. Discretionary requirements
  324. 12Paragraph 12
  325. Discretionary requirements: procedure
  326. 13Paragraph 13
  327. Discretionary requirements: enforcement
  328. 14Paragraph 14
  329. Combination of sanctions
  330. 15Paragraph 15
  331. Monetary penalties
  332. 16Paragraph 16
  333. Costs recovery
  334. 17Paragraph 17
  335. Appeals
  336. 18Paragraph 18
  337. Publicity for imposition of civil sanctions
  338. 19Paragraph 19
  339. Persons liable to civil sanctions
  340. 20Paragraph 20
  341. Guidance as to use of civil sanctions
  342. 21Paragraph 21
  343. Publication of enforcement action
  344. 22Paragraph 22
  345. Compliance with regulatory principles
  346. 23Paragraph 23
  347. Review
  348. 24Paragraph 24
  349. Suspension
  350. 25Paragraph 25
  351. Payment of penalties into Consolidated Fund
  352. 26Paragraph 26
  353. Part 3: Procedures applying to regulations
  354. Regulations made by a single authority
  355. 27Paragraph 27
  356. Regulations made by two or more national authorities
  357. 28Paragraph 28
  358. Hybrid instruments
  359. 29Paragraph 29
  360. Schedule 7: Renewable transport fuel obligations
  361. Introductory
  362. 1Paragraph 1
  363. The Administrator
  364. 2Paragraph 2
  365. Determination of amounts of transport fuel
  366. 3Paragraph 3
  367. Discharge of obligation by payment
  368. 4Paragraph 4
  369. Civil penalties
  370. 5Paragraph 5
  371. Disclosure of information
  372. 6Paragraph 6
  373. Interpretation
  374. 7Paragraph 7
  375. Schedule 8: Carbon emissions reduction targets
  376. Gas Act 1986 (c. 44)
  377. 1Paragraph 1
  378. Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)
  379. 2Paragraph 2
  380. 3Paragraph 3
  381. 4Paragraph 4
  382. 5Paragraph 5
  383. Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27)
  384. 6Paragraph 6