UK Climate Committee unveils its plans

The new Committee on Climate Change set out its priorities for guiding UK climate policy on Wednesday.

The Committee on Climate Change will play a central role in UK climate policy once the new Climate Change Act comes into force. It will have responsibility for advising government on the mandatory emissions reduction targets for 2020 and 2050 and for proposing the levels of the interim five-yearly carbon budgets.

The committee published a document on Wednesday setting out its work plans and explaining the process it will go through when making decisions.

It divides its work into five areas:

setting the 2050 target

setting carbon budgets and emissions reduction trajectory up to 2020

deciding whether to include international aviation or shipping in the UK targets

deciding whether the targets should be for carbon dioxide or include other greenhouse gases

considering the implications for other issues such as fuel poverty and security of supply

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