LA LÉGISLATION SUR LE CLIMAT AU ROYAUME UNI

The document analyzes the UK's Climate Change Act 2008, highlighting its use of legally binding long-term targets, five-year carbon budgets, and the role of the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC). It notes that while the UK successfully reduced emissions by 44% relative to 1990 levels by 2018, it faces challenges in meeting future carbon budgets and its 2050 net-zero target. The study suggests Canada could adopt similar frameworks, particularly regarding independent advisory bodies and the integration of adaptation planning into climate law.

• The Climate Change Act 2008 established a long-term target to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, which was updated in 2019 to target net-zero emissions (carboneutralité).
• The UK utilizes cumulative five-year 'carbon budgets' to maintain progress toward 2050; these budgets limit the total amount of greenhouse gases the country is legally permitted to emit over a specific period.
• The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) serves as an independent, publicly funded advisory body that monitors progress, conducts analysis, and provides recommendations on carbon budgets and adaptation.
• The legislation incorporates climate adaptation by requiring a national adaptation programme and a climate change risk assessment every five years, as well as a dedicated CCC sub-committee for adaptation.
• Regional governments in Scotland and Wales have established their own specific climate targets and laws, such as the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, while Northern Ireland has not adopted distinct climate laws.
• By 2018, the UK reduced emissions by 44% compared to 1990, exceeding its target of 37% by 2020, largely due to a decrease in coal use for electricity and the impact of the late 2010s financial crisis.
• Despite early success, the UK is currently projected to miss its fourth and fifth carbon budgets and its net-zero target, requiring urgent action in sectors where emissions are harder to reduce.
• Brexit presents potential risks to the UK's climate progress, including changes to emission accounting rules if the country leaves the EU emissions trading system and the diversion of government resources.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2020). LA LÉGISLATION SUR LE CLIMAT AU ROYAUME UNI. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CICC-La-Le%CC%81gislation-Sur-Le-Climat-Au-Royaume-Uni.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. LA LÉGISLATION SUR LE CLIMAT AU ROYAUME UNI. 2020. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CICC-La-Le%CC%81gislation-Sur-Le-Climat-Au-Royaume-Uni.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=LA LÉGISLATION SUR LE CLIMAT AU ROYAUME UNI |date=March 2020 |url=https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CICC-La-Le%CC%81gislation-Sur-Le-Climat-Au-Royaume-Uni.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2020lgislation, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{LA LÉGISLATION SUR LE CLIMAT AU ROYAUME UNI}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CICC-La-Le%CC%81gislation-Sur-Le-Climat-Au-Royaume-Uni.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }