NET ZERO TARGETS

In 2019, the U.K. government agreed to commit to the Net Zero by 2050 target as recommended by the Climate Change Committee. Additionally, in April 2021, the government enshrined a target to slash emissions by 78% by 2035.

These targets are some of the most ambitious laid out by any government in the world. Two years on from the initial Net-Zero by 2050 commitment, how is the U.K. progressing, especially after the COVID pandemic substantially affected the progress of other governmental plans?

What Changes Are Needed?

Upon agreeing to the Net Zero plan, the U.K. set out a broad list of changes that would be required to meet this ambitious target.

• Resource and energy efficiency that reduce demand for energy across the economy
• Societal choices that lead to lower demand for carbon-intensive activities
• Extensive electrification, particularly of transport and heating, supported by a significant expansion of renewable and other low-carbon power generation
• The development of a hydrogen economy to service demands for some industrial processes, for energy-dense applications in long-distance HGVs and ships, and electricity and heating in peak periods
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) in industry, with bioenergy (for GHG removal from the atmosphere), and very likely for hydrogen and electricity production.

Progress

In terms of general progress in emissions reduction, the U.K. is progressing well. In fact, emissions in 2020 were 48% below the levels of 1990. While the COVID pandemic certainly contributed to this significant reduction, 2019 (a non-affected year) still had a 40% emissions reduction on 1990, indicating substantial progress.

In relation to the Net Zero targets however, progress will need to accelerate.

While the U.K. is on track to meet the third carbon budget (2018-22), it is not on track to meet the fourth (2023-2027) or fifth (2028-2032). To further highlight the need for quicker progress, these budgets were set against an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 plan. Therefore, the new 100% reduction plan will require significant attention if it is to be accomplished by the middle of the century as planned.