First Meeting of the Committee on Climate Change

The Committee on Climate Change meets for the first time today. The Committee will set a succession of five-yearly carbon budgets and advise the UK Government on whether the target to reduce carbon emissions by 60% (on 1990 levels) by 2050 should be revised upwards to 80%. The Committee must deliver its report on the 80% target by the end of 2008.

The Committee will deliver an annual report to parliament on progress made against meeting the emissions-reduction targets, with Ministers asked to justify why targets have not been met, if this is the case. The Committee is also to advise on whether to incorporate international aviation and shipping emissions in the UK's targets and budgets.

The Chair of the Committee is Lord Adair Turner. Members are Lord Robert May, Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, Professor Jim Skea, Dr Sam Fankhauser and Professor Michael Grubb.