UK must slash carbon emissions by 57 per cent: CCC

The Committee on Climate Change has warned government that urgent action is required in order to cut UK emissions by 57 per cent by the end of the next decade and meet its long-term climate change targets.

The UK has a legal requirement to reduce UK emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050 from 1990 levels. And therefore needs to commit to an emissions reduction of 57 per cent by 2028-2032, according to the CCC’s fifth carbon budget report.

The committee warned that “a number of new policies and clear long-term signals to investors are urgently required” to bring forward a dramatic fall in the carbon intensity of electricity to less than a quarter of the levels seen today.

By 2030 the CCC recommends that the UK should aim to deliver power with a carbon intensity of 100 grammes of CO2 per kilowatt-hour, compared to 450g today. In addition, 1 in 7 UK homes should be heated using low-carbon sources of energy and the majority of new cars and vans bought in the UK should be fully or partially electric.

The recommendations of the influential committee are strengthened through the 2008 Climate Change Act, meaning the government is legally required to give an explanation if it chooses not to follow the advice.

CCC chairman John Gummer said that should the government legislate the fifth carbon budget at the recommended level, “the government will take the next important step”.

“That will build on its commitment to the UK’s existing climate targets and send a clear signal to businesses and consumers that UK climate ambition remains on track through the 2020s and into the 2030s,” he said.

“This medium-term vision, balancing a range of considerations, helps to ensure the UK can continue to play its part at lowest cost to business and consumers while properly positioning our country for the environmental and economic realities that lie ahead,” he added.

The CCC said the UK has made good progress towards these goals so far.

“Emissions have reduced by 36 per cent on 1990 levels and if current policies are effective will be down by 43-46 per cent in 2020,” the report said.

But in order to meet the legislated fourth carbon budget (2023-2027) emissions must fall by 52 per cent, the CCC added.

“The proposed fifth carbon budget continues along that trajectory, and would continue to cut emissions at lowest-cost to UK businesses and households,” the report said.

“The UK has been at the forefront of global action on climate change. As a nation, we have begun the transition towards a low-carbon economy,” Gummer added.