The Sixth Carbon Budget

The UK Climate Change Act, first passed in 2008 and amended in 2019, is the UK's framework law for the transition to a low-carbon economy, creating an obligation for the government to set legally-binding carbon budgets to act as stepping stones towards an overall 2050 emissions reduction target.

UK Climate Change Act

Laws and Policies

CCLW

CCLW national policies

Budget approved

The fifth carbon budget (adopted in June 2016) has set emission reduction levels to 57% compared with 1990 levels. It covers the period between 2028-2032 and is in line with the UK's global commitments. The recommended budget and its latest progress report, the CCC (Committee on Climate Change) listed some recommendations in the form of priorities for policy development, including:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Enabling mature low carbon energy sources (e.g. onshore wind) to come to market</li>
<li>Defining how energy efficiency improvements shall be financed and delivered</li>
<li>Increasing adoption of low carbon heat, which includes policies to overcoming behavioural barriers</li>
<li>Extending vehicle efficiency targets through the 2020s, coupled with policies to increase use of electric vehicles</li>
</ul>
 
In order to decarbonise effectively by 2050, the CCC has called for all new investment from 2020 onwards in power to be low carbon, excluding back-up and balancing plant. From 2035 onwards, the same will apply to all investments in transport and head.The sixth carbon budget was adopted by Parliament on June 22th, 2021.