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ARTICLE · 19 JULY 2019

UK Becomes First G7 Country To Legislate For "Net-Zero" Emissions

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The CCC sought to put the UK Government's failures in the context of its international climate leadership.

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Steven Finizio
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The UK has become the first G7 country to legally oblige its Government to eliminate all greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions.

On 26 June 2019, the UK Parliament passed The Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019,1  which amends Section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008 ("CCA") to require the UK to reduce its GHG emissions by 100% compared to their level in 1990.2 In doing so, Parliament has followed the recommendation of the UK's Committee on Climate Change ("CCC") that the UK should adopt a target of "net-zero" emissions by 2050. We have previously reported on the CCC's recommendation here and on the Government's introduction of the amending legislation here.

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