Bold act: UK climate change bill passes into law

The Climate Change, Energy and Planning Acts all have a central aim of reducing UK carbon emissions.

The Climate Change Act is the first national piece of legislation in the world to set legally binding targets to reduce carbon emissions. The UK has set a target to reduce its emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

The Energy and Planning Acts, meanwhile, are intended to remove barriers to investment in the green economy, including small-scale renewable generation.

“The UK is the first country in the world to introduce a legally-binding framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” commented Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband, on the passage of the Climate Change Bill into law. “Setting the 80 per cent target was the easy part: now the work really begins. Government, communities, businesses and individuals need to work together to bring about change.”

Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the UK Government will have to produce five-yearly 'carbon budgets' outlining how emissions targets will be met and put forward plans to get businesses to report their carbon emissions.

Lord Turner is expected to give his independent Climate Change Committee’s recommendations on the first three carbon budgets next week.

The Government said the Energy Act 2008 backs the development of new civil nuclear power and the expansion of renewables, as well as supporting new technologies, such as smart meters and carbon capture and storage.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said the Planning Act 2008 would speed up planning permission for many low carbon power developments and could save the country £300 million a year.

“There is enough renewable energy caught up in the system to power over one and a half million homes and the current planning system cannot cope,” she said. "In the future, now that the Planning Bill has been given Royal Assent, we can begin to create the faster, fairer planning system we need to reduce our fossil fuel addiction and build up a new generation of renewable energy infrastructure sources like wind power."

To mark the passing of the three pieces of legislation, the Government said it was launching a challenge this week, to get UK citizens to save energy and cut their carbon emissions.

The People Power challenge, part of the Government’s Act on C02 campaign, will follow volunteers from Newcastle, Portsmouth and Birmingham, as they attempt to reduce the energy they use in their daily lives, with a dedicated website tracking their progress, sharing their tips and comparing success between the three cities.

"With over 40 per cent of emissions coming from the choices we make as individuals, the new People Power challenge aims to show the small steps we can each take so together we can make a big difference,” said Miliband.