Carbon Budgets
A carbon budget places a restriction on the total amount of greenhouse gases the UK can emit over a 5-year period. The UK is the first country to set legally binding carbon budgets.
The UK has domestic targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Change Act 2008 (CCA). The CCA established a long-term legally binding framework to reduce UK net greenhouse gas emissions in the period to 2050. In 2019, the 2050 target was revised to at least 100% below 1990 levels (i.e. net zero).
The CCA also introduced carbon budgets. These are legally binding limits on the net amount of greenhouse gas emissions the UK can emit over five-year periods and must be set 12 years in advance of the start of each period. The UK was the first country to set legally-binding carbon budgets and the first major economy to establish a net zero target in law. Since the UK introduced the Act, sixty other countries have implemented their own climate legislation.
1. The first carbon budget
The first carbon budget set a limit on UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions of 3,018 MtCO2e over 2008-12, representing a ~23% reduction on 1990 levels. In 2014, it was confirmed the UK had met the budget with the Net UK Carbon Account 36 MtCO2e (1%) below the limit.
Final statement for the first carbon budget period
2. The second carbon budget
The second carbon budget set a limit on UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions of 2,782 MtCO2e over 2013-17, representing a ~30% reduction on 1990 levels. In 2019, it was confirmed the UK had met the budget with the Net UK Carbon Account 384 MtCO2e (14%) below the limit.
Final statement for the second carbon budget period
3. The third carbon budget
The third carbon budget set a limit on UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions of 2,544 MtCO2e over 2018-22, representing a ~38% reduction on 1990 levels. In 2024, it was confirmed the UK had met the budget with the Net UK Carbon Account 391 MtCO2e (15%) below the limit.
Final statement for the third carbon budget period
4. The fourth carbon budget
The fourth carbon budget limits UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions to 1,950 MtCO2e over 2023-27, representing a ~51% reduction on 1990 levels. The final statement for the fourth carbon budget period will be laid before Parliament no later than 31 May 2029.
5. The fifth carbon budget
The government has agreed with the Committee on Climate Change and set the fifth budgetary period covering 2028 to 2032 at 1,725 MtCO2e.
6. The sixth carbon budget
The government has set the sixth carbon budget at 965 MtCO2e for 2033-37, representing a ~76% reduction on 1990 levels. This is in line with the level advised by the Committee on Climate Change. This is the first carbon budget set on the trajectory to net zero by 2050. It is also the first to include the UK share of international aviation and international shipping emissions.
The Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipping) Regulations 2026
7. The seventh carbon budget
The government has set the seventh carbon budget at 535 MtCO2e, for 2038-42, representing a ~87% reduction on 1990 levels. This is in line with the level advised by the Committee on Climate Change. This includes the UK share of international aviation and international shipping emissions.
8. Policies and proposals to meet carbon budgets
The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published in October 2025, sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions in a way that lowers bills and secures good jobs, in line with the landmark 2008 Climate Change Act. It details how the cross-government package will enable the UK to meet carbon budgets 4 to 6, up to 2037.
Carbon budget and growth delivery plan - GOV.UK
A delivery plan setting out how carbon budget 7 will be met will be published as soon as is reasonably practicable, in line with the Climate Change Act.
Related information
Updates to this page
-
Added details of the setting of the seventh carbon budget (2038-2042).
-
Government has set the sixth carbon budget at 965 MtCO2e, in line with the level advised by the Committee on Climate Change.
-
Sixth carbon budget data and link to legislation added.
-
Fifth Carbon Budget has now become law. Page updated.
-
First published.