Defra updates on emissions reduction targets

Published 13 October 2023

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The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has updated on its own performance towards reducing greenhouse emissions.

Defra had set itself a target of reducing its overall GHG emissions by 50% by 2025 (from a 2017/ 18 baseline). According to the department’s annual Greening Government Commitments performance update, as of the end of March 2023 levels had reduced by 30%.

The department’s target on cutting total waste appears to be going in the wrong direction, with an increase of 25% against a targeted 15% reduction. However, Defra has already met or exceeded targets related to water consumption, paper use and domestic flight emissions.

Key figures from the performance update (targets all for end of March 2025):

  • Total GHG have reduced by 30% against a target of 50%
  • Direct GHG from buildings has reduced by 17% against a target of 15%
  • Water use reduced by 10% against a target of 8%
  • Domestic flight emissions have reduced by 59% against a target of 30%
  • Total waste increased by 25% against a target of 15% reduction
  • 12% of waste went to landfill against a target of less than 5%
  • 57% of waste was recycled against a target of more than 70%
  • Paper use has reduced by 89% against a target of 50%

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Defra’s performance update was revealed a day after the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published a damning assessment of the UK’s ability to reach net zero by 2050.

The government’s statutory adviser has warned that prime minister Rishi Sunak’s net zero speech last month increases the risk of the UK missing its 2050 decarbonisation target and is also likely to increase customer bills and motoring costs.

The CCC assessment of Sunak’s speech concludes that the prime minister’s intervention undermines consumer confidence in low carbon technologies, risks investment in sectors such as electric vehicles and was overall “unhelpful” as it lacked any evidence to support assurances that the UK’s targets will still be met.

This article was updated on 16 October to make clear that Defra’s targets were to 2025