Shaken Not Burned

Highlighting changemakers and solutions

Glossary - Climate Change Committee

The UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) is an independent non-departmental public body that advises the Government on its emissions targets. It reports to Parliament on the progress being made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

It also mandates the Carbon Budgets, which are legally binding intermediate targets renewed every five years. The CCC tells the Government what these budgets should be and provides a sector-by-sector breakdown of how to achieve them. Established in 2008, the CCC is sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Busting a myth - climate change is not a problem because the climate has always changed

While it is true that the Earth has passed through many different eras,  each with its own climate, the problem with the current level of global warming is the speed at which it is changing - making it more difficult for nature and society to adapt. Unlike historic changes, the rising temperatures we see today are not caused by the natural cycles of warming and cooling.

Today’s global warming is an anthropogenic phenomenon, caused by humanity through the use of fossil fuels and the continued destruction of habitats that store greenhouse gases, such as forests. Temperatures keep breaking records at an alarming rate: for example, the world's oceans hit new temperature records every single day over the past year. As the oceans warm they are less able to store GHGs, only exacerbating the increase in global temperatures.

What we’ve been reading this week

• Remaining on the topic of global warming, hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect  2.5°C temperature increases this century, well above internationally agreed targets, with catastrophic consequences for humans and the planet, the Guardian finds. There is a big, concerning disconnect between what the science is saying and what people in power are actually doing to address it.

• Meanwhile, fossil fuel giant Shell - which keeps raking in billions of profits - managed to sell millions of credits for carbon removals that never took place to Canadian oil sands companies. This was part of a government-funded subsidy scheme to boost the carbon removal industry. While the concept of using carbon credits as a tax incentive shows promise, trust in the carbon markets continues to be eroded by poor communication and dishonest practices that must be eradicated. While the rules may differ between compliance and voluntary markets, the broader confusion benefits no-one.

• A coalition of HSBC shareholders headed by ShareAction is demanding that the bank shares its plans for utilising sustainable finance funds and sets a target for renewable energy. Shareholder activism is on the rise and it can be an important tool to change corporate practices from the inside.

• The UK Business Climate Hub has launched a 'census' to gauge the private sector's readiness for the net zero transition. The research will explore how businesses in the UK are approaching net zero to support policymakers, investors and business leaders. Establishing a dialogue between the private and public sector is fundamental to rolling out effective policies and ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

• Competition Bureau Canada is investigating lululemon following complaints of alleged misleading green claims by the sportswear brand. Non-profit group Stand.earth said in February the company's claims on its products and its sustainability targets contained  “false or misleading public representations”. Consumer brands are under increased scrutiny as more people are demanding that they walk the walk.