The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Mr Edward Davey)
Today Government have published a parliamentary report announcing that, recognising uncertainty over the international framework for reducing aviation emissions and particularly the treatment of aviation within the EU emissions trading system, it is deferring a firm decision on whether to include international aviation and shipping emissions within the UK’s net carbon account.
The parliamentary report clarifies that the first four carbon budgets, covering the period 2008-27, have been set to leave headroom for international aviation and shipping emissions, putting us on a trajectory which could be consistent with a 2050 target that aligns with the UK’s share of the international goal of limiting global temperature rises due to climate change to 2°C.
The Government do not intend to alter the way in which international aviation and shipping emissions have been taken into account in carbon budgets one to four.
Government reaffirm their overall commitment to the 2050 target and recognise that emissions from international aviation and shipping should be treated the same as emissions from all other sectors, in order to reach our long-term climate goals.
In taking this decision. Government have taken full account of advice provided by the Committee on Climate Change, and will revisit this issue when setting the fifth carbon budget.
Publication of this report fulfils the Government’s statutory obligations as laid out in section 30 of the Climate Change Act. Copies of the parliamentary report have been laid in the House and can be obtained electronically from the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/emissions/carbon_budgets/carbon_budgets.aspx