The Climate Change Act was passed on 26th November 2008 and includes the following provisions:
- 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.
In passing the Act, the UK became the first country to commit to a unilateral target for reduction of greenhouse gases that is line with the expert opinion on what is needed to avoid irreversible global warming.
