Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipping) Regulations 2026
329Ayes
94Noes
Carried · majority 235 · Government won229 did not vote
652 Members · Aye 329 · No 94 · DNV 229 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 24 June 2026 to bring international aviation and international shipping within the scope of the UK's legally binding carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act 2008. The draft regulations passed by 329 votes to 94. The result means both sectors are now formally included in the statutory framework that sets legally binding limits on the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. The practical effect is that international aviation and shipping emissions must, for the first time, count toward the UK's carbon budgets rather than being treated as separate from the domestic climate framework. This places a legal obligation on government to account for those emissions when planning and reporting on progress toward net zero. The sectors involved are economically significant: international aviation and shipping together represent a substantial share of transport-related carbon output, and their inclusion raises questions about future policy levers such as fuel standards, levies, or carbon pricing. The vote split sharply along party lines. Labour MPs, including those elected under the Labour and Co-operative Party banner, voted unanimously in favour, as did the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and Plaid Cymru. All 86 Conservative MPs who voted opposed the regulations, joined by all six voting Reform UK members and one independent. There were no Conservative or Reform UK votes in favour. The result mirrors two related divisions held on the same day, a draft Carbon Budget Order and a Credit Limit Order, which passed by almost identical margins of 332 to 94 and 330 to 93 respectively, suggesting the three measures form a coordinated package of climate legislation brought forward by the government.
Voting Aye meant
Support bringing international aviation and shipping emissions within the UK's statutory climate framework, strengthening legal commitments to reduce carbon from these sectors.
Voting No meant
Oppose including international aviation and shipping in the Climate Change Act's carbon budgets, likely citing concerns about economic competitiveness, costs to industry, or the appropriateness of domestic regulation for international sectors.
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
236
0
124
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
—
0
0
7
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