Climate Change Act 2008
The Climate Change Act 2008 has received Royal Assent and is now an Act of Parliament.
- Royal Assent
- Lord Rooker
- 14 November 2007
- 9 September 2025
What the bill does
<p>The Climate Change Bill contains provisions that will set a legally binding target for reducing UK carbon dioxide emission by at least 26 per cent by 2020 and at least 80 per cent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. </p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>Requires the Government to publish five-yearly carbon budgets as from 2008</li><li>Creates a Committee on Climate Change </li><li>Requires the Committee on Climate Change to advise the Government on the levels of carbon budgets to be set, the balance between domestic emissions reductions and the use of carbon credits, and whether the 2050 target should be increased </li><li>Places a duty on the Government to assess the risk to the UK from the impacts of climate change</li><li>Provides powers to establish trading schemes for the purpose of limiting greenhouse gas</li><li>Confers powers to create waste reduction pilot schemes</li><li>Amends the provisions of the Energy Act 2004 on renewable transport fuel obligations.</li></ul>
Progress through Parliament
- 1st reading14 NOV 2007 · LORDS
- 2nd reading27 NOV 2007 · LORDS
- Committee stage11 DEC 2007 · LORDS
- Report stage25 FEB 2008 · LORDS
- 3rd reading31 MAR 2008 · LORDS
- Programme motion9 JUN 2008 · COMMONS
- Money resolution9 JUN 2008 · COMMONS
- Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons17 NOV 2008 · LORDS
- Consideration of Lords amendments18 NOV 2008 · COMMONS
- Royal Assent (current stage)26 NOV 2008 · UNASSIGNED
What Royal Assent means, and what happens next
The bill has received Royal Assent and is now an Act of Parliament.
Its provisions come into force on the date the Act specifies, which may be immediately, on a set date, or when a minister makes a commencement order.
Read the full guide to this stage: What happens at Royal Assent
Official bill page on parliament.uk
Questions about the Climate Change Act 2008
- What stage is the Climate Change Act 2008 at?
- The Climate Change Act 2008 has received Royal Assent and is now an Act of Parliament.
- Has the Climate Change Act 2008 become law?
- Yes. The Climate Change Act 2008 has received Royal Assent and is now an Act of Parliament.
- Who sponsored the Climate Change Act 2008?
- The Climate Change Act 2008 was sponsored by Lord Rooker.
- When was the Climate Change Act 2008 introduced?
- It was introduced to Parliament on 14 November 2007, at first reading.
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- Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Act 2026 · Rachel Reeves
- Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2026 · Dan Tomlinson
- Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act · Angela Rayner
- Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 · Bridget Phillipson
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