Overview

The Climate Change (Sectoral Targets) Bill aims to establish legally binding targets for reducing carbon emissions and increasing renewable energy use across various sectors in the UK. It sets specific targets for energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy generation, and other climate-related goals, with the ultimate aim of contributing to international efforts to combat climate change.

Description

This Bill sets out several key targets, many with deadlines between 2010 and 2020. These include:

• Energy Efficiency: A 20% increase in residential energy efficiency from a 2010 baseline by 2020, and a 10% decrease in commercial and public sector energy use from 2005 and 2010 baselines by 2010 and 2020 respectively.
• Renewable Energy: 10% renewable electricity generation by 2010, rising to 20% by 2020. A separate target for overall renewable energy consumption of at least 20% by 2020 will be set within two years of the bill passing.
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP): Installation of 10 gigawatts of CHP capacity by 2010.
• Microgeneration: An eight-fold increase in the number of dwellings with microgeneration installations by 2012.
• Dwelling Standards: 80% of dwellings to achieve a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating of 80 or above by 2016; all new dwellings built from 2016 onwards to be zero carbon; and all dwellings occupied by vulnerable households to achieve a SAP rating of 65 or above by 2010.

The Secretary of State is responsible for ensuring these targets are met, consulting relevant bodies and publishing a strategy outlining the measures to be implemented. The targets can be revised, but must meet or exceed any equivalent EU targets.

Government Spending

The Bill mandates that all costs associated with the Secretary of State’s actions under the Act will be covered by funds provided by Parliament. Specific cost figures are not provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

The bill will affect a broad range of groups, including:

• Households: Faced with energy efficiency improvements and potential costs associated with meeting new standards.
• Businesses: Particularly those in the commercial and public sectors, who face targets for reducing energy consumption.
• Energy Industry: Including renewable energy, CHP, and microgeneration sectors which will face opportunities from these targets but also potentially challenges in meeting them.
• Vulnerable Households: Targeted for energy efficiency improvements to their homes.
• Government: Responsible for setting and achieving the targets, and funding related programs.

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