CCC indicators to track progress in developing Greenhouse Gas Removal options

The CCC indicator framework The CCC monitors progress towards meeting carbon budgets and the 2050 target using an indicator framework, first set out in our October 2009 Progress Report to Parliament. This framework contains future trajectories for a range of measurable quantities linked to UK emissions: • Headline indicators (greenhouse gas emissions, emissions intensity and energy demand); • Implementation indicators for specific measures (e.g. additional low-carbon power generation capacity, purchases of electric cars, roll-out of loft insulation); • Forward indicators to measure progress in advance of implementation (e.g. power generation investments at planning and construction stages); • Policy milestones for an appropriate framework enabling future implementation of measures (e.g. legislation of new efficiency targets for cars). The full set of current indicators across the main sources of emissions is available in technical annexes here: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/meeting-carbon-budgets-2016-progress-report-to-parliament/.

Our indicators follow our current best projection of the technologies and behaviours required to cost-effectively meet carbon budgets and the 2050 target. However, there is uncertainty over the rates at which technologies will develop, their future costs, and how people will change their behaviour. Analysis of the required changes is also more developed in some areas than others. This means some sectors and measures have more detailed indicator sets than others. It also means indicators are not prescriptive (carbon budgets could be met by underperforming in some indicators, while outperforming others) nor exhaustive. We are currently updating our indicators in advance of our 2017 Progress Report, to reflect: • Updated CCC scenarios (available at https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/the-fifth-carbon-budget-the-next-step-towards-a-low-carbon-economy/) which informed the level of the fifth carbon budget, legislated by Parliament last July. • Our October report on UK Climate Action following the Paris Agreement (available at https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/uk-action-following-paris/). A key additional conclusion was the need for a Government strategy to develop options for removing greenhouse gases from the air.

Additional information: Bids should be sent in time in time for receipt by 1pm on 17 February.