UK legislation

The UK adopted the Climate Change Act in November 2008, which sets a target for the UK to reduce carbon emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. It also set an interim target of a 34% reduction by 2020 (with the potential to increase this to a 42% cut given an international agreement) and established the concept of carbon budgets.

The Committee on Climate Change acts as an advisor to Government on setting these targets and budgets and the measures to achieve them.

The Government has outlined its plans to achieve this target in its Low Carbon Transition Plan, which is supported by strategies on renewable energy, industry and transport.

Further information can be found at the following external sites:

The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan (DECC);
The UK Renewable Energy Strategy (DECC );
The UK Low Carbon Industrial Strategy (BIS);
Low Carbon Transport (DfT);
UK Carbon Budget up to 2022 (CCC);
Climate Change Act 2008 (DECC);

The Carbon Trust was established by the UK Government to help all businesses reduce their emissions.

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Further information on the key legislation for each sector can be found below:

UK legislation

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