Advice on reducing the UK’s emissions

How the CCC advises on UK emissions targets

We assess the latest greenhouse gas emissions data to judge whether the UK is on course to meet its carbon budgets. We report progress to the UK Parliament and Parliaments in Scotland and Wales annually, and to Northern Ireland on request.

• UK greenhouse gas emissions were 447 MtCO₂e in 2021, including the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions, and were 47% below 1990 levels. This was a decrease of 10% on 2019 emissions but an increase of 4% on 2020, as emissions in 2020 had been significantly impacted by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The first carbon budget (2008 to 2012) was met, as was the second (2013 to 2017) and the UK is on track to outperform the third (2018 to 2022). However, it is not on track to meet the fourth (2023 to 2027) or the fifth (2028-2032). To meet future carbon budgets and the Net Zero target for 2050 will require governments to introduce more challenging measures.
• Through the Climate Change Act, the UK government has committed to reduce emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels (Net Zero) by 2050.

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, the UK has committed to contribute to global emission reductions to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C and to pursue efforts towards 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Carbon budgets

The Climate Change Act requires the UK government to set legally-binding ‘carbon budgets’ which act as stepping stones towards the 2050 target. A carbon budget is a cap on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the UK over a five-year period. Budgets must be set at least 12 years in advance to allow policy-makers, businesses and individuals enough time to prepare. The CCC advises on the appropriate level of each carbon budget. Once accepted by Government, the respective budgets are legislated by Parliament. The budgets describe the cost-effective pathway to achieving the UK’s long-term climate change objectives. They also take into account a range of other factors including scientific knowledge, technology, economic and social circumstances, amongst others.

All six carbon budgets have been put into law and run up to 2037. The UK is currently in the third carbon budget period (2018 to 2022).