In July 2009, DECC published the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan (LCTP), detailing how the UK will achieve the first three carbon budgets and save around 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) between 2008 - 2022. The LCTP also set out how, to help deliver the necessary emissions reductions, each major government department has been given a share of responsibility for the total carbon budget.
These departmental carbon budgets are made up of two elements:
- an allocation based on each departments’ own estate and operations and;
- an allocation based on the levers and influence departments have in reducing emissions in various sectors of the economy.
This means that every government department is committed to managing the emissions associated with their its own estate and operations. In addition some departments with important policy influence in specific sectors are also committed to managing the impact of those policies on carbon emissions so that the carbon budgets are met.
Since publication of the LCTP the Government has developed the system of departmental carbon budgets. In March 2010, "Climate Change: Taking Action" was published which sets out further details on departmental carbon budgets, the process by which we will monitor progress and information about an appropriate management framework to drive delivery.
The document also details the actions being taken by departments to adapt to the most pressing climate change impacts.
Eighteen government departments have produced a Carbon Reduction Delivery Plan (CRDP). Each plan sets out, in detail, the actions each department will take on its own and in collaboration with other departments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Links to each of these plans can be found below.