Climate Change Act 2008 — 2050 net zero target
The Climate Change Act 2008 places a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for 2050 is at least 100% lower than the 1990 baseline, a net zero target in force since 27 June 2019. The Act's five-year carbon budgets now extend to 2042 after the Carbon Budget Order 2026 set the 2038–2042 budget at 535 MtCO2e.
Legal reference Climate Change Act 2008 (c. 27), s. 1 as amended by the Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1056); Carbon Budget Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/695)
Checked against legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · 4 Oct 2026