The Carbon Accounting (2013–2017 Budgetary Period) Regulations 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on [24th March 2015], make provision for carbon accounting for the 2013–2017 budgetary period, for the purposes of Part 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008 (“the Act”).

Regulation 3 sets out the circumstances in which carbon units are to be credited to and debited from the net UK carbon account during the 2013–2017 budgetary period as a result of the operation of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

Regulation 4 sets out the circumstances in which carbon units are to be credited to and debited from the net UK carbon account to take into account domestic aviation emissions during the 2013–2017 budgetary period.

Regulation 4 of the Carbon Accounting Regulations 2009 (“the 2009 Regulations”) established the credit account, for the purpose of holding carbon units which are to be credited to the net UK carbon account in accordance with regulation 5 of the 2009 Regulations. Regulation 5 of these Regulations places a duty on the Secretary of State to cancel all the carbon units remaining in the credit account at the end of the 2013–2017 budgetary period.

Regulation 6 amends the 2009 Regulations. Regulation 2(2) of those Regulations is amended to correct an error and regulation 9 of those Regulations is amended so that it refers to these Regulations. Regulation 6 also inserts a new paragraph into regulation 9 of the 2009 Regulations, to place a duty on the Secretary of State to add details to the register regarding the cancellation of carbon units in accordance with regulation 5 of these Regulations.

Schedules 1 and 2 set out the calculations for the annual allocation and the domestic aviation cap respectively.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.