The UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) has reported that the country is not on course to meet its 2030 emissions reduction target.
The committee highlights that only one-third of the required reductions are supported by credible plans, urging the government to take immediate action.
The CCC’s assessment comes despite a significant reduction in emissions since 1990, largely driven by the phaseout of coal and increased use of renewable energy sources.
The UK’s climate advisors note that further efforts are needed across various sectors, including transport, buildings, industry and agriculture, to maintain progress towards net zero.
The CCC has outlined ten key recommendations for the government.
These include making electricity cheaper, reversing recent policy rollbacks and increasing efforts in tree planting and peatland restoration.
The committee points out that much of the necessary low carbon technology is already available but is not being scaled up quickly enough.
For instance, by 2030, annual offshore wind installations need to triple, onshore wind installations must double, and solar installations need to increase fivefold.
Additionally, about 10% of UK homes should be heated by heat pumps, up from the current 1%, and nearly all new cars should be electric, up from 16.5% in 2023.
The CCC also noted the detrimental effects of policy rollbacks by the previous government, which widened the gap between the UK’s plans and targets.
They stressed the need for the new government to recommit to net zero with clear and decisive actions, addressing both domestic and international perceptions of the UK’s climate commitments.
Professor Piers Forster, Interim Chair of the CCC, emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that the new government has a crucial opportunity to correct the course.
He called for rapid progress in areas such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and tree planting.
According to Professor Forster, the transition to net zero offers benefits like investment opportunities, lower energy bills and enhanced energy security, helping the UK maintain its global leadership in climate action.
