Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 April 2026
Letter from the Minister for Climate, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to the Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipping) Regulations 2026, dated 17 April 2026
From: Transport Committee
Summary
The Minister for Climate notifies Parliament that the Government has laid statutory instruments to formally include UK international aviation and shipping emissions in carbon budgets from 2033 onwards, setting international credits for the 2028–32 period at zero. The move aligns with longstanding planning assumptions and Climate Change Committee advice, without changing overall climate targets or imposing new sector-specific requirements.
Key findings
- Government laid statutory instrument including international aviation and shipping (IAIS) emissions in the Sixth Carbon Budget (2033–37) and all subsequent carbon budgets and net zero target
- Separate instrument sets international credits available for the Fifth Carbon Budget (2028–32) at zero
- Change does not alter the level of UK's currently legislated climate targets or introduce new sector-specific limits
- Government states this reflects consistent parliamentary committee calls and independent Climate Change Committee advice
- Emissions will be accounted for as part of whole-economy approach to net zero between 2033 and 2050
Tone
ProceduralTopics
climate-policycarbon-budgetsaviationshippingnet-zero
Key actors
Katie White OBE MP, Ruth Cadbury, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Transport Select Committee, Climate Change Committee
Notable line
“Instead, it ensures IAIS emissions will be accounted for consistently, alongside all other major sources of emissions, as part of the UK's whole -economy approach to net zero between 2033 and”
Key Quotes
“… the Government laid a statutory instrument this week to formally include the UK's share of international aviation and international shipping (IAIS) emissions in the Sixth Carbon Budget (2033-37), all subsequent carbon budgets, and the net zero target.”
“This instrument brings legislation into line with the Government's long ‑ standing planning assumption that emissions from IAIS would be included in carbon budgets from the Sixth Carbon Budget onwards.”
“It does not change the level of the UK's currently legislated climate targets, introduce new sector-specific limits, or set new policy requirements for the aviation or shipping sectors.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗