Draft Carbon Budget Order 2026
332Ayes
94Noes
Carried · majority 238 · Government won223 did not vote
649 Members · Aye 332 · No 94 · DNV 223 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament approved the Draft Carbon Budget Order 2026 on 24 June 2026 by 332 votes to 94. The order sets a legally binding cap on UK greenhouse gas emissions for a future budget period, forming part of the framework through which the UK tracks progress toward its net zero target under the Climate Change Act 2008. The vote advances the UK's statutory emissions reduction commitments. Carbon budgets are the primary legal mechanism by which successive governments are held accountable for progress on net zero. Approving this order means the government will be legally bound by the emissions ceiling it contains, affecting policy across energy, transport, industry, and land use. The division split sharply along party lines. Labour MPs, including Labour and Co-operative MPs, voted unanimously in favour, joined by the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, Plaid Cymru, and most SNP members. All 86 Conservative MPs who voted opposed the order, as did all 6 Reform UK MPs who voted and one DUP MP. No Conservative or Reform MP voted in favour, and no Labour or Liberal Democrat MP voted against. The vote came alongside two related divisions on the same day covering international aviation and shipping emissions and the credit limit under the Climate Change Act, both of which passed by similar margins.
Voting Aye meant
Support adopting the carbon budget, backing the UK's legally binding emissions reduction commitments and the net zero framework.
Voting No meant
Oppose the carbon budget order, either rejecting the pace or ambition of emissions targets or challenging the economic costs of the net zero trajectory.
Each row is one party. The stacked bar gives the within-party split of Aye / No / Absent; the columns on the right give the raw counts. The whip column shows the published party position — “Free vote” means the whip was formally removed for this division.
Party
Whip
Aye / No / Abs
Aye
No
Abs
Labour Party
Whipped Aye
239
0
121
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
86
30
Liberal Democrats
Whipped Aye
50
0
21
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
28
0
15
Independent
—
2
1
10
Reform UK
Whipped No
0
6
2
Scottish National Party
—
2
0
5
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
—
0
1
4
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
5
0
0
Plaid Cymru
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
0
0
2
Your Party
—
1
0
1
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
0
1
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
—
0
0
1
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
The carbon budget is a science-led framework that combines climate action with economic growth, job creation, and national security; Britain has already halved emissions while growing the economy 85%, proving climate action and prosperity are compatible.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,455 words) →
The carbon budget lacks credible impact assessment, will increase costs for households and businesses, offshore manufacturing to higher-emission countries, and represents unaccountable control by civil servants and activists; the Climate Change Committee's costings are unreliable and not properly scrutinised.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (3,539 words) →
The carbon budget sets a credible long-term framework that provides business certainty; the previous cross-party consensus should be rebuilt and the government's delivery plan will answer the detailed questions about implementation.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,088 words) →
The carbon budget is necessary and science-based; climate change is already causing measurable harm; the government should accelerate electrification and place local authorities at the centre of delivery with statutory climate duties.Liberal Democrat · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,426 words) →
The carbon budget reflects proven climate policy success; while scrutiny is legitimate, opposition to the measure signals climate denial; the transition must accelerate to tackle interconnected crises of climate, cost of living, and nature loss.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (783 words) →
The impact assessment explicitly states the transition will create net jobs; the Climate Change Committee's advice is robust and evidence-based; the cost of inaction is higher than the cost of the transition.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (155 words) →
The UK has already cut emissions 54% since 1990 and done its part; other countries should follow our lead rather than Britain imposing unilateral burdens on itself.Reform UK · Voted no · Read full speech (157 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0