Policy brief 10 years of the UK Climate Change Act

1 April 2018. Policy brief 10 years of the UK Climate Change Act Headline issues Policy briefs provide analysis on topical issues, presenting specific The experience of the UK's Climate Change Act provides lessons recommendations to inform ongoing for Climate law-making that apply internationally. Policy debates. Drawing on the Grantham Research Institute's expertise, The Climate Change Act has been instrumental in advancing they summarise either our research findings or the state of knowledge about Climate action over the past decade but reform will be needed if a particular issue. the UK is to meet its international Climate obligations.

2 This Policy brief has been written by Sam Fankhauser, Alina Averchenkova and Summary Jared Finnegan. It summarises a longer report, 10 years of the UK Climate Change comprehensive framework law is an essential tool for coordinating A. Act (43 pp), available at: action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience. GranthamInstitute/publication/10- years - A good Climate law contains statutory targets, assigns clear duties and Climate - Change -act/. responsibilities and provides clarity about the long-term direction of travel. Economy-wide, multi-year targets, set well in advance, help to define a clear yet flexible path towards the long-term Climate objective.

3 A strong independent body is critically important to ensure consistent Policy delivery and evidence-based decision-making. In the UK the introduction of the Act and its carbon budgets has helped to reduce emissions, particularly in the power sector, while the economy has continued to grow. Although the Act is technically consistent with the Paris Agreement, it will probably need supplementing by 2020, for instance by including a target for achieving net zero' emissions. New safeguards are needed to strengthen the ability to hold the UK. government to account, for example by creating a statutory response time for the government to publish its carbon plans.

4 All parts of government must be fully committed to implementation of the Act as the UK moves into a more challenging phase of emissions reductions. Introduction direction of Policy travel. The target was informed by science, The Act offers a The UK Climate Change Act went which is central to the credibility through Parliament 10 years ago number of lessons, and became law in November of the framework. 2008. The Act offers a number S. tatutory five-year carbon for the UK and other of lessons, for the UK and other budgets: The Act requires the adoption of a rolling set countries, on how countries, on how Climate Change legislation is best structured to be of medium-term targets called carbon budgets.

5 Each Climate Change effective. These are summarised carbon budget provides a here, with a focus on the legal legislation is best provisions in the Act and how they statutory cap on economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions over have been implemented. structured to be The assessment is based on 33. a period of five years . The time span and the economy-wide effective semi-structured interviews with active or former civil servants, scope provide the flexibility to accommodate fluctuations special advisers, government across time and space. Set 12. ministers, shadow ministers, years in advance, sequential backbench Members of carbon budgets define a cost- Parliament, Policy commentators effective but progressive path and private sector representatives towards the 2050 objective.

6 From different industries. Their responses are complemented C. ontinual adaptation with insights from the relevant planning: The Act prescribes literature, the authors' own a continuous approach to experience in engaging with UK adaptation. There is a five- Climate Policy and several informal year cycle that begins with a conversations with experts in comprehensive Climate Change UK Policy and in Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA), governance. which is followed by a National Adaptation Programme (NAP), Key components of the before the cycle starts again. Climate Change Act A. n independent advisory body: A key feature of the Act Five features stand out that is the creation of a powerful, make the Climate Change Act a independent advisory body, the particularly innovative framework Committee on Climate Change law on Climate Change and (CCC).

7 The CCC effectively a powerful guide for Climate functions as the custodian of Change Policy following the Paris UK Climate Policy and the long- Agreement (see also Figure 1). term objectives set in the Act. A. statutory long-term Like the Act itself, it covers both emissions target: The Act mitigation and adaptation, the prescribes that economy-wide latter through its Adaptation annual emissions of greenhouse Sub-Committee. gases in 2050 must be at least M. andatory progress 80 per cent lower than 1990. monitoring and levels. The purpose of this accountability: Regular provision is to offer a clear legal government reporting to signal about the long-term 2 Policy brief April 2018 10 years of the UK Climate Change Act: Summary Figure 1.

8 How does the Long-term target to 2050. UK Climate Change Figure 1. What and how? Outcomes Act work? Reduce emissions by at least 80% on 1990 levels Long-term direction of travel Covers the whole Defines the UK's economy and contribution to solving all greenhouse gases Climate Change Carbon What and how? Outcomes budgets Sequence of 5-year targets Basis for concrete Policy Recommended by Long-term target Committee translated into near- on Climate Change term actions (CCC). Flexibility built in Debated and legislated Progressive, ratcheted by Parliament emissions cuts Set 12 years ahead Actual emissions Continual What and how? Outcomes 80.

9 0. -25%. -31% adaptation 5-year cycles Introduced 70. -37%. 0. -51% planning of adaptation Climate Change Million tonnes of CO2 equivalent -57% programmes and risk into public 60. 0. risk assessments and private sector decision-making -80%. 50. Scrutinised 0. by CCC Prepares for the 40. now unavoidable 0. impacts Carbon budget 4. Carbon budget 3. Carbon budget 5. 30. Carbon budget 2. Carbon budget 1. 0. Year 1. 20. 0. Year 5. 10. 0. Year 10. 0. 1990 2008 2012 2013 2017 2018 2022 2023 2027 2028 2032 2050. Year 15. Year 20. Independent What and how? Outcomes advisory body Committee on Climate Change : Independent, objective analysis experts and secretariat Long-term Duties and powers Recommends consistency in approach across to deliver carbon budgets government What and how?

10 Outcomes Monitors progress Transparency and Government is Assigns clear on emissions legitimacy accountable to responsibilities reduction and Parliament to deliver Climate resilience More informed Holds government decision-making Government obliged accountable to produce plans to meet budgets Enables public scrutiny CCC provides annual progress reports Provides basis for to Parliament Policy implementation Judicial review if non-compliant Differences made by the Act Sources for carbon budget data: Committee on Climate Change , 1 A better political 2 The Climate 3 International 4 Share of low- 2017 (targets);. debate on consensus has held leadership, inspiring carbon power up Department for Climate Change others to act from 20-45% by 2016 Business, Innovation & Skills, 2017.