This paper assesses the forces working for and against the political sustainability of the UK 2008 Climate
Change Act. The adoption of the Act is seen as a landmark commitment to action on climate change, but
its implementation has not been studied in any depth. Recent events, including disagreements over the
fourth carbon budget and the decarbonisation of the electricity sector, shows that while the Act might
appear to lock in a commitment to reducing emissions through legal means, this does not guarantee
political lock-in. The assumption, made by some proponents of the Act, that accountability of political
leaders to a public concerned about climate change, via Parliament, would provide the main political
underpinning to the Act is criticised. An analysis of alternative sources of political durability is presented,
drawing on a framework for understanding the sustainability of reform developed by Patashnik. It is
argued that the Act has helped create major institutional transformations, although the degree to which
new institutions have displaced the power of existing ones is limited. The Act has produced some policy
feedback effects, especially in the business community, and some limited investment effects, but both
have been insufficient to withstand destabilisation by recent party political conflicts. The Climate
Change Act remains at risk.
This paper assesses the forces working for and against the political sustainability of the UK 2008 Climate
Change Act. The adoption of the Act is seen as a landmark commitment to action on climate change, but
its implementation has not been studied in any depth. Recent events, including disagreements over the
fourth carbon budget and the decarbonisation of the electricity sector, shows that while the Act might
appear to lock in a commitment to reducing emissions through legal means, this does not guarantee
political lock-in. The assumption, made by some proponents of the Act, that accountability of political
leaders to a public concerned about climate change, via Parliament, would provide the main political
underpinning to the Act is criticised. An analysis of alternative sources of political durability is presented,
drawing on a framework for understanding the sustainability of reform developed by Patashnik. It is
argued that the Act has helped create major institutional transformations, although the degree to which
new institutions have displaced the power of existing ones is limited. The Act has produced some policy
feedback effects, especially in the business community, and some limited investment effects, but both
have been insufficient to withstand destabilisation by recent party political conflicts. The Climate
Change Act remains at risk.
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