Update to Course Material

NEBOSH National Diploma in Environmental Management - Element 1

Under the section entitled ‘Principles of Environmental Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control’, there is a minor heading of ‘Indirect Effects on the Health and Safety of People Outside the Workplace’ and a further heading of ‘Global, Regional and Local Environmental Effects’. You should add the following to the end of the section on ‘Global Warming’.

'In the UK the Climate Change Act 2008 became law on 26th November 2008. The Act is UK specific legislation and is not as a result of a European Directive or Regulation. It is considered to be the world’s first long-term legally binding framework to tackle climate change. The Act has a number of key provisions:

• 2050 target: the UK aims to achieve at least an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 against a 1990 baseline.
• Carbon Budgets: the Government is required to set five-yearly carbon budgets, which cap emissions in each budgetary period, giving a roadmap to the 2050 target. The first budget period is 2008 – 2012.
• Proposals and Policies: the Government is required to develop proposals and policies on what can be done to achieve the carbon budgets and 2050 target.
• Committee on Climate Change: a new independent body is established to advise on climate change, carbon budgets and measures to reduce emissions. The Committee also has a reporting role to Parliament on progress towards each budget period and the 2050 target.
• Emissions Trading Schemes: through secondary legislation there are powers to introduce UK emissions trading schemes.
• Adaptation: The Government, with advice from the Committee on Climate Change, is required to prepare a report on the risk to the UK of the current and predicted impact of Climate Change. It must develop programmes to address those risks and the Committee on Climate Change is required to report annually on progress of those programmes.’