Secondary navigation

Climate Change [HL] Act 2008

Type of Bill:
Government Bill
Sponsors:
Lord Rooker
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Hilary Benn
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Progress of the Bill

Bill started in the House of Lords

  1. House of Lords
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  2. House of Commons
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  3. Consideration of Amendments
  4. Royal Assent

Last event

Act of Parliament

This Act is being prepared for publication.

Summary of the Climate Change [HL] Act 2008

The Climate Change Bill contains provisions that will set a legally binding target for reducing UK carbon dioxide emission by at least 26 per cent by 2020 and at least 60 per cent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.

Key areas

  • Requires the Government to publish five-yearly carbon budgets as from 2008
  • Creates a Committee on Climate Change
  • Requires the Committee on Climate Change to advise the Government on the levels of carbon budgets to be set, the balance between domestic emissions reductions and the use of carbon credits, and whether the 2050 target should be increased
  • Places a duty on the Government to assess the risk to the UK from the impacts of climate change
  • Provides powers to establish trading schemes for the purpose of limiting greenhouse gas
  • Confers powers to create waste reduction pilot schemes
  • Amends the provisions of the Energy Act 2004 on renewable transport fuel obligations.

Stay up to date

Keep up to date with the progress of Bills going through Parliament. Sign up for email alerts or use our RSS feeds.

Related information

Guide to the passage of a Bill

Find out what happens at each stage of a Public Bill’s journey through Parliament with the Passage of a Bill guide.

When does a Bill become law?

Explanation of what happens after Bills have been passed, and when laws may change.

Human rights

Do you have expertise or a special interest in human rights? The Joint Committee on Human Rights scrutinises the human rights implications of Government Bills.