UK law · read at source
Climate Change Act 2008: duties on government, by section
The Climate Change Act 2008 sets the UK’s 2050 target, the five-year carbon budgets and the five-yearly climate risk assessment.
Each of those duties falls on the Secretary of State.
A company’s own duties come from other instruments, which this page names.
The Act in four sections
What each duty says, and who holds it
| Section | What it does | Who is bound |
|---|---|---|
| s.1(1) | The net UK carbon account for 2050 must be at least 100% lower than the 1990 baseline | The Secretary of State |
| s.4(1) | Set a carbon budget for each five-year period from 2008–2012, and keep the account within it | The Secretary of State |
| s.56 | Lay an assessment of the UK’s climate change risks before Parliament, at least every five years | The Secretary of State |
| s.62 | A power to direct a reporting authority to report on climate impacts and its adaptation plans | Public bodies and statutory undertakers, if directed |
Section 1
The 2050 target: net zero, against 1990
Section 1(1) makes it the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for 2050 is at least 100% lower than the 1990 baseline.
The figure was 80% until SI 2019/1056 changed it on 27 June 2019.
The UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution, at least 81% below 1990 by 2035, is a Paris Agreement commitment, not a target in the Act.
Section 4
Carbon budgets: five-year ceilings
Section 4(1) requires the Secretary of State to set an amount for the net UK carbon account for each five-year period, and to ensure the account does not exceed it.
Seven budgets have been set; the seventh, by SI 2026/695, is 535 MtCO2e for 2038–2042.
All seven, with the Order behind each, are on UK carbon budgets.
Section 56
The climate change risk assessment
Section 56 requires the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament an assessment of the risks to the UK of the current and predicted impact of climate change, each no later than five years after the last.
In preparing it, the Secretary of State must take into account the advice of the Committee on Climate Change.
The third assessment, CCRA3, was published on 17 January 2022.
The Climate Change Committee published its independent assessment for the fourth on 20 May 2026, and says the government must lay CCRA4 by January 2027.
Its Technical Report identifies 41 risks and 2 opportunities across all four nations; the report says the coverage is similar to CCRA3’s, so the two counts are not comparable.
Section 62
Adaptation reporting: a power, used once
Section 62 lets the Secretary of State direct a reporting authority to report on the impact of climate change on its functions and its plans to adapt.
Defra’s guidance summary defines a reporting authority as a body with functions of a public nature or a statutory undertaker.
The power was used as a direction in the first round only; reporting has been voluntary since, the fourth round closed on 31 December 2024, and Defra anticipates a fifth from late 2026.
Scope
The UK Act, and the devolved Acts
Scotland and Wales have their own climate legislation, the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.
Their targets are not covered here, and the UK figures on this page should not be read across to them.
What the UK charges businesses for carbon, as opposed to what the Act targets, is on carbon tax UK.
Frequently asked
The Climate Change Act 2008, answered
What is the Climate Change Act 2008?
The UK Act that sets the 2050 target, requires five-year carbon budgets, and requires five-yearly climate change risk assessments.
Its central duties fall on the Secretary of State.
What is the 2050 target in the Climate Change Act?
Section 1(1) makes it the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure the net UK carbon account for 2050 is at least 100% lower than the 1990 baseline.
The figure was 80% until SI 2019/1056 changed it on 27 June 2019.
Does the Climate Change Act 2008 apply to businesses?
Its target and carbon budgets bind the Secretary of State, not companies.
Its adaptation reporting power can reach public bodies and statutory undertakers only, and it has been used by invitation since the first round.
Company reporting duties such as SECR, ESOS and the UK ETS come from other instruments.
What are carbon budgets under the Act?
Section 4(1) requires the Secretary of State to set an amount for the net UK carbon account for each five-year period and to stay within it.
Seven have been set; the seventh is 535 MtCO2e for 2038–2042.
What is the climate change risk assessment?
Section 56 requires the Secretary of State to lay a report before Parliament assessing the risks to the UK of climate change, at least every five years.
The third was published on 17 January 2022; the Climate Change Committee published its independent assessment for the fourth on 20 May 2026, and says the government must lay the fourth by January 2027.
Is the 81% 2035 target in the Climate Change Act?
No. At least 81% below 1990 by 2035 is the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, submitted on 30 January 2025. It is a separate instrument from the Act’s carbon budgets.
Sources
Primary sources
Every duty on this page is cited to its section; the dates are the owners’ own.
- legislation.gov.ukClimate Change Act 2008, section 1
The 2050 target, a duty of the Secretary of State.
- legislation.gov.ukClimate Change Act 2008, section 4
Carbon budgets: set them, and stay within them.
- legislation.gov.ukClimate Change Act 2008, section 56
The five-yearly climate change risk assessment laid before Parliament.
- legislation.gov.ukClimate Change Act 2008, section 62
The power to direct a reporting authority to report on adaptation.
- legislation.gov.ukSI 2019/1056, article 2
Changed the 2050 target from 80% to 100% on 27 June 2019.
- legislation.gov.ukThe Carbon Budget Order 2026 (SI 2026/695)
The seventh budget, 535 MtCO2e for 2038–2042.
- GOV.UK (DESNZ)UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution
At least 81% below 1990 by 2035; a Paris Agreement commitment, not an Act target.
- GOV.UK (Defra)UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022
The third assessment, published 17 January 2022.
- Climate Change CommitteeA Well-Adapted UK (CCRA4 independent assessment)
Published 20 May 2026; the government CCRA4 is due by January 2027.
- CCRA4-IA Technical ReportTechnical Report (Met Office-led)
41 risks and 2 opportunities, across all four nations.
- GOV.UK (Defra)Climate change adaptation reporting: fourth round guidance summary
Who can be directed, and why reporting has been voluntary since round 1.
- Climate Change CommitteeCarbon budgets, targets and progress
The statutory adviser’s hub.