Climate change act

The Climate Change Act

Passed in 2008 to develop plans for reducing emissions in the UK, ways that this will be achieved. -

-  -  2050 Target - reducing emissions by at least 80% in 2050                  

-  -  Carbon Budgets Act - limits the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the UK over a five-year period. The first four carbon budgets legislations are in place and run up to 2027.

-  - The Committee on Climate Change - advised the Government on emissions targets, reporting progress to to Parliament.

-  - A National Adaptation Plan - Government assess the risk the UK is facing with climate change, this enables them to prepare a strategy to address them, and encourage organizations to do the same. 

The two main government departments in charge of setting climate policy are - 

-       Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

Policy’s to reduce emissions, as well as being responsible for providing energy. They are also responsible for encouraging change against climate change for the UK and rest of the world.

-       Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Developing a National Change Program that aims to look at the risks in the first Climate Change Risk Assessment and develop it.