Environment Agency admits short-term net zero targets likely to be missed

The Environment Agency has admitted that previously pledged short term net zero targets are unlikely to be achieved.

Despite the short term setback, the regulator has strengthened its longer term net zero ambitions by raising its emissions reduction target to 90% by 2050 and will only use UK nature-based offsetting for the remaining 10%.

The regulator said the goal it set in 2019 to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and offset the remaining 55% of emissions would not be manageable due to more stringent standards to adhere to and “limited availability of high quality, nature-based UK offsets”.

The agency based its net zero ambition on the external standards of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) that has revised its net zero definition in the past four years. This moves away from a reliance on offsetting and emphasis on reductions instead. The SBTI standard now requires 90% reduction in emissions with maximum 10% offset by 2050.

It remains committed to cutting operational emissions by 2030, but acknowledged the 45% reduction would be challenging.

“We remain fully committed to achieving this target,” the Environment Agency said. “However the change in our offsetting target means that we are now aiming to be net zero by 2045 to 2050.”

Interim targets to 2050 have been added to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by at least 80% by 2030 and converting its full fleet of cars and vans to electric by 2027, with zero-carbon 4x4s to be rolled out by 2030.

It said progress on cutting operational emissions by more than one third since 2019 has been in part due to switching its fleet to electric vehicles. It is investing in efficient infrastructure such as adopting low carbon steel reinforcement bar alternatives and using modelling to minimise embedded carbon in its designs.

“Since 2019, we have engaged in cross-sector collaboration to reduce carbon in our infrastructure, and we have made significant progress.”

These include making low carbon concrete a minimum requirement, and specifying that any new flood schemes must have a carbon assessment.