IEMA Welcomes "Unequivocal Statement" on Carbon Budget Review

Commenting on today’s announcement from the Committee on Climate Change regarding the review of the UK's fourth Carbon Budget, Nick Blyth, Policy and Practice Lead at IEMA said:

"We welcome the unequivocal statement from the Committee on Climate Change that there are no changes in circumstances that would warrant any lowering of the target set in the fourth Carbon Budget. It is essential that Government confirms the budget as soon as possible to provide long-term certainty for investment in low-carbon energy infrastructure".

The fourth carbon budget was legislated in June 2011. It covers the period 2023-27, and commits the UK to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared with 1990 levels. It reflects the best estimate of the most cost-effective path to meeting the 2050 target in the Climate Change Act (i.e. to reduce emissions by at least 80% relative to 1990).

As part of the agreement to set the budget, the Government scheduled a review for 2014. The Act sets out the basis for the review: it must be based on advice from the Committee and the budget can only be changed if “there have been significant changes affecting the basis on which the previous decision was made”.

The Committee's report is available from www.theccc.org.uk. Click here to visit IEMA's Policy Hub on Climate Change which includes IEMA's Position Statement on Climate Change.

11th December 2013