Climate Change Act 2008
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- Environment Agency
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 2 compliance obligations, 10 practical guides across 2 topics
What you must do
2 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Other requirements 1
Comply with directions from the relevant national authority
If your business is the administrator of a climate‑change trading scheme, you must follow any instructions issued by the relevant national authority, even if those instructions are varied or revoked later. You need to have a system to receive, record and act on those directions promptly.
Offences and prohibitions 1
Fail to comply with information notice or give false data
Unlimited fineIf an environmental authority (e.g. the Environment Agency) serves you with a written notice asking for information to set up a carbon‑trading scheme, you must provide the requested details by the date shown unless you have a reasonable excuse. Failing to do so, or deliberately supplying false or misleading information, is a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you face an unlimited fine (level 5 on the standard scale).
Penalties for non-compliance
1 penalty under this legislation. 1 carry an unlimited fine.
Fail to comply with information notice or give false data
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sector-Specific 9
Develop offshore wind projects and secure seabed leases
How to develop offshore wind projects in UK waters, from securing seabed rights through Crown Estate leasing rounds …
Contracts for Difference (CfD)
The main government support mechanism for new low-carbon electricity generation. CfDs provide long-term price stability for renewable generators …
Hydrogen Production Licensing and Compliance
Licensing, safety, and environmental requirements for hydrogen production facilities in the UK. Includes Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard certification, …
Offshore Wind Development Consent Orders (DCO)
Offshore wind projects over 100MW in English territorial waters require a Development Consent Order from the Secretary of …
Crown Estate Offshore Wind Seabed Leasing
Securing seabed rights is the critical first step for offshore wind projects in UK waters. The Crown Estate …
Grid Connection for Energy Projects
How to connect electricity generation projects to the UK grid. Understand the difference between DNO and National Grid …
Get an electricity generation licence
How to determine if you need an electricity generation licence from Ofgem (GB) or the Utility Regulator (NI). …
UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) compliance
Complete guide to UK ETS obligations for installations, aviation operators, and maritime operators. Covers registration thresholds, annual reporting …
Comply with UK Emissions Trading Scheme
How to meet your annual UK ETS compliance obligations if you operate a regulated installation, run aviation operations, …
Sections and provisions
109 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 26
- s.1 The target for 2050 Secretary of State
- s.5 Level of carbon budgets
- s.8 Setting of carbon budgets for budgetary periods
- s.11 Limit on use of carbon units Secretary of State
- s.12 Duty to provide indicative annual ranges for net UK carbon account
- s.14 Duty to report on proposals and policies for meeting carbon budgets
- s.15 Duty to have regard to need for UK domestic action on climate change
- s.16 Annual statement of UK emissions Secretary of State
- s.19 Duty to report on proposals and policies for compensating for budget excess
- s.20 Final statement for 2050 Secretary of State
- s.31 Procedure for regulations under section 30
- s.33 Advice on level of 2050 target Committee
- s.34 Advice in connection with carbon budgets Committee
- s.35 Advice on emissions from international aviation and international shipping Committee
- s.38 Duty to provide advice or other assistance on request
- s.48 Procedure for making regulations
- s.52 Powers to give directions The administrator
- s.57 Advice of Committee on Climate Change on impact report Committee on Climate Change
- s.58 Programme for adaptation to climate change Secretary of State
- s.60 Programme for adaptation to climate change: Northern Ireland relevant Northern Ireland department
- ... and 6 more duties
Powers 38
- s.2 Amendment of 2050 target or baseline year
- Schedule 3 Trading schemes regulations: further provisions
- s.3 Consultation on order amending 2050 target or baseline year
- s.6 Amendment of target percentages
- s.7 Consultation on order setting or amending target percentages
- s.9 Consultation on carbon budgets
- s.13 Duty to prepare proposals and policies for meeting carbon budgets
- s.17 Powers to carry amounts from one budgetary period to another
- s.18 Final statement for budgetary period
- s.22 Consultation on alteration of carbon budgets
- s.23 Alteration of budgetary periods
- s.25 Base years for targeted greenhouse gases other than CO 2
- s.26 Carbon units and carbon accounting
- s.30 Emissions from international aviation or international shipping
- s.36 Reports on progress
- s.37 Response to Committee's reports on progress
- s.39 General ancillary powers
- s.40 Grants to the Committee
- s.41 Powers to give guidance
- s.42 Powers to give directions
- ... and 18 more powers
Definitions 16
- s.10 Matters to be taken into account in connection with carbon budgets
- s.24 Targeted greenhouse gases targeted greenhouse gas
- s.27 Net UK carbon account
- s.29 UK emissions and removals of greenhouse gases
- s.32 The Committee on Climate Change
- s.43 Interpretation of Part 2
- s.45 Activities to which trading schemes may apply
- s.55 Interpretation of Part 3
- s.70 Interpretation reporting authority devolved authority
- s.77 Charges for single use carrier bags carrier bags the relevant national authority
- s.89 Territorial scope of provisions relating to greenhouse gas emissions UK coastal waters the UK sector of the continental shelf
- s.93 Measurement of emissions etc by reference to carbon dioxide equivalent tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent
- s.95 Meaning of “national authority” national authority
- s.96 Meaning of “relevant Northern Ireland department”
- s.97 Minor definitions devolved legislature European law primary legislation
- s.98 Index of defined expressions