Join Climate Change Agreements

Eligible sites were able to join the chemical sector’s Climate Change Agreement (CCA) at any point during the first three target periods, until 1 October 2018:

  • Target Period 1: Jan 2013 to Dec 2014
  • Target Period 2: Jan 2015 to Dec 2016
  • Target Period 3: Jan 2017 to Dec 2018
  • Target Period 4: Jan 2019 to Dec 2020

In April 2020, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announced it would consult on the extension of the scheme to include a fifth target period:

  • Target Period 5: Jan 2021 to Dec 2022

The consultation also proposes to re-open the scheme to new entrants and to allow operators to begin applying to the scheme immediately. The government expects to close applications for new entrants again on 30 September 2020. This is to allow the Environment Agency (EA) enough time to assess all applications prior to the beginning of Target Period 5. 

The consultation will conclude on 11 June 2020. In the meantime, please contact: ciabata@cia.org.uk for details on how to apply.

In exchange for committing to the sector’s energy efficiency improvement target (to be confirmed for Target Period 5), new entrants will benefit from a discount on the Climate Change Levy (CCL) levied on their energy bills. The percentage discount for CCA holders is currently 92% for electricity, 81% for natural gas, 77% for LPG and 81% for other taxable commodities.

Applicants need to complete the following steps to join our sector’s CCA:

  1. Demonstrate to CIABATA that their site(s) are eligible for a CCA in the chemical sector. Sites with eligible activities under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) are welcome to join the CCAs under our sector’s Umbrella Agreement.
  2. Apply to become a member of the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) or its subsidiary company, CIABATA, which manages the CCA for the chemical sector.
  3. Source product throughput and consumption data for the baseline year (2008 as standard). More recently established sites can enter a CCA if they commit to collect data for an agreed 12-month baseline period. Note - in their April 2020 consultation, the government have proposed revising the baseline year from 2008 to 2018 for Target Period 5.
  4. Complete all forms required by CIABATA to support the application. CIABATA will review the information provided and submit an application to the EA.
  5. Once the EA have issued an Underlying Agreement for a participant’s site(s), the participant may instruct their energy suppliers to apply the relevant CCL relief entitlements to their energy bills.