Climate Change Act 2008 Explanatory Notes

Climate Change Act 2008

2008 CHAPTER 27

Commentary on Sections

Part 1: Carbon Target and Budgeting

Alteration of budgets or budgetary periods

Section 21: Alteration of carbon budgets

105. This section gives the Secretary of State a power, using an affirmative resolution statutory instrument, to amend the level of carbon budgets in certain circumstances. The section also limits the conditions in which orders setting carbon budgets can be revoked.

106. Subsection (1) prevents an order setting a carbon budget being revoked after the final date by which it had to be set in accordance with section 4(2).

107. Subsection (2) gives the Secretary of State the power to amend budgets, but limits the circumstances in which such an order may be made. A budget may be amended only if there have been significant changes in the factors on the basis of which the decision to set, or previously amend, the budget was made.

108. Subsection (3) limits the circumstances in which an order amending a budget after the start of the relevant budgetary period can be made. A budget may be amended only after the start of the budgetary period if there have been significant changes, since the budget period began, in the factors on the basis of which the decision to set or previously amend the budget was made. This is a more stringent test than in subsection (2) because there will typically have been less time for a significant change to happen.

109. Subsection (4) stipulates that the level of a carbon budget may not be amended after the budgetary period has ended.

110. Subsection (5) requires any order amending budgets to follow the affirmative resolution order procedure.