The Climate Change Act (2008)

The Climate Change Act (2008) sets a legally binding target for reducing UK CO₂ emissions by at least 26% (and possibly 32% if global emissions reductions can be agreed in 2009) by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050.

The Act established a Committee on Climate Change to advise on five yearly carbon budgets and gave the Government powers to establish trading schemes, create a Community Energy Savings Programme, and extend the existing Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme to electricity generators. www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/climatechange/uk/legislation/provisions.htm

See the Committee on Climate Change report Building a Low-carbon Economy - the UK's Contribution to Tackling Climate Change  www.theccc.org.uk/reports/building-a-low-carbon-economy