Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026

Parliament voted on 24 June 2026 to approve the Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026, passing it by 330 votes to 93. The order sets a limit on the number of carbon credits the government may use to meet its statutory carbon budget obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008. This was one of three related climate votes held on the same day. The order matters because the Climate Change Act 2008 allows the UK government to purchase international carbon credits to count toward its legally binding carbon budgets when domestic emissions reductions fall short. A credit limit constrains how much the government can rely on bought credits rather than actual emissions cuts at home. In practical terms, it shapes the balance between domestic decarbonisation effort and the use of international offsets. The vote divided sharply along party lines. Labour, Labour and Co-operative, Liberal Democrat, Green, and Plaid Cymru MPs all voted in favour, with no recorded votes against from those parties. The Conservatives provided 85 of the 93 no votes, with Reform UK contributing 6 and one independent and one DUP MP also voting against. Around 120 Labour MPs had no vote recorded. The result sits alongside two other climate orders passed the same day, covering the carbon budget itself and the inclusion of international aviation and shipping emissions.