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Climate change is covered by both UK andinternational legislation - to find out more click on the following links:

• UK
• International

Climate Change Bill

The Climate Change Bill will be the world's first legally binding framework for the reduction of domestic carbon emissions and will put the UK on the path to a 60% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, via a system of 5 year carbon budgets.

The draft Climate Change Bill was published in early 2006 and was introduced to Parliament in November 2007. Taking forward the UK Climate Change Bill: the Government response to pre-legislative scrutiny and public consultation was also published in October 2007. An independent body will be established to advise the Government on the content of each budget.

Climate Change Programme

The UK Climate Change Programme, which was revised in 2006, sets out the government's policies and priorities for action in the UK and internationally. It identifies local authorities as critical to the achievement of the government's climate change objectives. The Programme includes a package of new and existing measures, which are projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 15-18% below 1990 levels by 2010 and work towards the longer term goal to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, as set out in the Energy White Paper.

Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change

Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change – supplement to PPS 1 is aimed at setting out how the planning process can work towards reducing carbon emissions in location, siting and design of new development. Read our response to the recent consultation on PPS 1.

Local Authority Beacon Scheme

The Local Authority Beacon Scheme , funded by DCLG and Defra and run by IDeA, enables local authorities to exchange best practice and learn from each others' experience. There have been eight rounds so far, each of which have had ten themes – included delivering cleaner air and sustainable energy. Round nine, launched in March 2007, includes a theme on tackling climate change.

Nottingham Declaration

The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change was launched in October 2000 and is a voluntary pledge for local authorities to actively tackle climate change at a local level by working with the community and developing an action plan. Over 200 local authorities have signed up to the scheme, which provides resources designed to support local authorities throughout the stages from starting to address the challenges of climate change through to reviewing implemented plans. The scheme is now managed by the Energy Saving Trust, who also provide advice and other resources to local authorities.

Climate Change and Air Quality

There are strong links between climate change and air pollution. The sources of both CO2 and local air pollution are the same (e.g. vehicle exhausts, factory chimneys, etc). Several air pollutants are 'climate active' (e.g. low level ozone), and many greenhouse gases can have an affect on local air quality (e.g. methane). Finally, a warming climate will affect local air quality, for example hotter summers could lead to more summer smog episodes.

In 2007 the Air Quality Experts Group released their report 'Air Quality and Climate Change, a UK Perspective' , which presents these linkages, and also the benefits of tackling climate change and air quality in an integrated way. The report helped inform the 2007 Air Quality Strategy.