UK climate change policy and legislation
Clear scientific evidence of the risks from climate change
The UK Government is guided by the vast body of scientific research which provides evidence that climate change is happening and is set to get worse over the 21st century with serious risks for water resources, food security, human health and biodiversity. More>>
Within the international climate negotiations, the UK supports the target to limit global warming to 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. More>>
With the passing of the Climate Change Act in 2008, the UK became the first country in the world to pass legislation to curb carbon emissions and to prepare for the risks from a changing climate.
The Climate Change Act 2008 covers two elements of addressing climate change:
- mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and
- adaptation (coping with climate change).
The Climate Change Act 2008 made the UK the first country in the world to have:
- a legally binding long-term framework to cut carbon emissions
- a framework for building the UK's ability to adapt to climate change
Adaptation within the Climate Change Act 2008
To enhance the ability of the UK to cope with the risks from climate change, the Climate Change Act requires:
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A UK-wide climate change risk assessment (CCRA) that must take place every five years;
- A national adaptation programme (NAP) which must be put in place and reviewed every five
years, setting out the Government’s objectives, proposals and policies for responding to the risks
identified in the CCRA;
- Adaptation Reporting Powers (not applicable in Northern Ireland) which enable the Secretary of
State to direct “reporting authorities” to prepare climate change adaptation reports.
Responsibilities for climate change within Government
Within Government, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) takes the lead in the adpatation element of the requirements under the Climate Change Act, while the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) takes the lead on reducing UK emissions of greenhouse gases.
As well as action at the national level, the UK Government (through DECC) takes a lead role in international negotiations to address global climate change under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Find out more about Defra's role in climate change adapation>>
Find out more about DECC's role in addressing climate change >>
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and the Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC)
The Committee on Climate Change was established under the Climate Change Act 2008 to
provide independent advice to the UK Government on setting and meeting carbon budgets and on preparing for the impacts of climate change.
The Act also introduced an Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) of the independent Committee on Climate Change . The role of the ASC is to provide advice, analysis, information and other assistance in relation to the Government's adaptation programme.
The ASC has a statutory role to provide advice to the Secretary of State on the preparation of the Climate Change Risk Assessment and to provide ongoing independent input and scrutiny.
Adaptation Sub-Committee Reports:
Second Report: "Adapting to climate change in the UK - measuring progress" - Adaptation Sub-Commitee Progress Report - 14 July 2011 >>
First Report : How well prepared is the UK for climate change? (2010) >>
Environment Agency and the UK Climate Impacts Programme
In October 2011, the Environment Agency took on a new role as the Government's delivery body in England to help organisations adapt to climate change. This role will build on the work of the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), based at Oxford University. The Environment Agency will provide advice and support to key sectors to help them build resilience to climate change. More>>
Latest Defra climate projections for the UK>>
Environmental Audit Committee
In 2010 the Environmental Audit Committee published the results of an inquiry into UK Government plans to adress climate change adapation. The inquiry examined the extent to which the Government is embedding climate change adaptation, and management of risks from future climate change impacts, into government programmes, policies and decision making, and into those of the wider public and private sectors.
Environmental Audit Committee's (EAC) inquiry on Adapting to Climate Change (published March 2010).
The government response to the EAC inquiry on climate change adaptation.
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