Committee on Climate Change
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Framework document
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is jointly sponsored by HM Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive. The relationships concerned are set out in a framework document that specifies the roles and responsibilities of the Committee and the mechanisms for managing the relationships between the CCC and the four administrations.
- Committee on Climate Change Framework Document (December 2008) (PDF 200 KB)
About the Committee
As a key part of the long-term legal framework set out in the Climate Change Act 2008, the Committee on Climate Change has been created as a new expert body, to independently assess how the UK can optimally achieve its emissions reductions goals for 2020 and 2050.
The Committee on Climate Change is a high profile independent statutory non-departmental public body and plays a crucial part in the UK’s effort to tackle climate change.
In summary, the Climate Change Act states that the CCC will advise Government:
- on the level of each five year carbon budget, consistent with the optimal trajectory towards the statutory 2050 and 2020 limits;
- how much effort should be made in the UK and overseas; and
- how much effort should be made by the part of the economy covered by cap and trade schemes, and by the rest of the economy.
An Adaptation Sub-Committee will provide independent scrutiny to Government (through the CCC), in relation to:
- the preparation of the UK risk assessment in particular its methodology and conclusions;
- the implementation of the Government’s Adaptation Programme (for England and reserved matters), highlighting areas where the Government is doing well, and areas where it is falling short on delivering changes;
- and any relevant topic suggested by the Government and the Devolved Administrations.
Further information - Adaptation Sub-Committee
Role of the Committee
On 1st December 2008, the Committee provided its advice to the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on the optimum level of the first three carbon budgets, consistent with achieving the 2020 and 2050 targets and fulfilling the UK’s international obligations. The CCC’s full advice is available on their website: www.theccc.org.uk
In making its recommendations, the CCC balanced a range of criteria, including economic, environmental and social factors. The Act includes a list of matter the CCC must consider when recommending the level of each budget:
- scientific knowledge about climate change;
- technology relevant to climate change;
- economic circumstances, and in particular the likely impact of the decision on the economy and the competitiveness of particular sectors of the economy;
- fiscal circumstances, and in particular the likely impact of the decision on taxation, public spending and public borrowing;
- social circumstances, and in particular the likely impact of the decision on fuel poverty;
- energy policy, and in particular the likely impact of the decision on energy supplies and the carbon and energy intensity of the economy;
- differences in circumstances between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland;
- circumstances at European and international level;
- the estimated amount of reportable emissions from international aviation and international shipping for the budgetary period or periods in question.
The Committee on Climate Change is the first body of its kind bringing together different strands of expertise from the fields of climate science and policy, economics, business competitiveness and financial management. It will draw on existing information and undertake its own analysis to provide expert advice to Ministers. It may also be required to give advice to Ministers on climate change matters on an ad hoc basis as and when requested.
Membership
The Act requires that the statutory Committee is comprised of a Chair and 5-8 members, supported by a standing secretariat of staff to conduct in-depth analysis into the issues being considered.
The Committee is chaired by Lord Adair Turner and currently has six members:
- Sir Brian Hoskins
- Lord Robert May
- Professor Jim Skea
- Dr Sam Fankhauser
- Professor Michael Grubb
- Professor Julia King
Page last modified: 1 December 2008
Page published: 10 August 2007