Debate on motions to approve the Draft Carbon Budget Order 2026, the Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and Shipping) Regulations 2026 and the Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026

Parliament will debate three related motions to approve carbon budgets and climate regulations for 2026. The motions cover the overall carbon budget limit for the UK's sixth carbon budget period, rules for counting emissions from international aviation and shipping, and a technical order adjusting credit allowances. Together, these set legally binding constraints on UK greenhouse gas emissions and determine how the country will meet its climate targets.

The carbon budgets are the backbone of UK climate law, converting the net-zero target into five-year spending limits on emissions across the economy. These specific 2026 motions are among the most significant environmental decisions Parliament makes, affecting the trajectory of decarbonisation across transport, energy, industry, and buildings. Approval or rejection will determine whether the UK's climate obligations are tightened, loosened, or face technical adjustment, with cascading effects on business investment and household energy costs.