Despite the progress the UK has made toward its climate ambitions, with territorial emissions having fallen by over 50%, the CCC’s report has stark warnings over the decreased pace and reversal of the previous UK government’s climate agenda over the last year. Based on current projections, the UK is off track for net zero, with only one-third of the emission reductions required to meet the 2030 target of reducing emissions by 68% compared to 1990 levels having credible plans. The CCC therefore states that the new Labour government will have to act fast.
Policy Assessment:
The CCC assessments found that the previous Conservative government’s policies and plans were lacking. Policy reversals, delays and inconsistent messaging meant that the UK’s progress had been hindered. Despite progress being made through the confirmation of the zero-emission vehicle mandate, a deal for industrial electrification and increases to funding for heat pumps, the Conservative’s confusing messaging severely undermined these developments. The CCC highlighted that the exemption for 20% of households from the phase-out of fossil fuel boilers by 2035 would severely impact the UK’s net zero targets. The report also highlighted that the justification for these changes was lowering the burden on consumers, but no financial evidence was presented to support this claim. Instead, the confusing messaging only undermined public support for net zero.
Actions to be Taken:
Much of the progress to date on the 2030 target has come from phasing out the UK’s reliance on coal, with the last coal-fired power station closing later this year. However, greater action is needed to rapidly reduce oil and gas use and meet the 2030 target. The CCC has set out the following actions for the government:
- Increase annual offshore wind installations 3x the current rate, increase onshore wind installations 2x the current rate and increase solar installations by 5x the current rate.
- Ensure that 10% of existing UK homes will be heated by a heat pump, compared with only 1% currently.
- Increase the market share of EVs from 16.5% today to nearly 100%.
- Make electricity cheaper through removing policy costs.
- Reverse the recent policy rollbacks from the previous Conservative government.
- Remove planning barriers for heat pumps, EV chargepoints and onshore wind.
- Introduce a comprehensive programme for the decarbonisation of public buildings.
- Effective implementation of the upcoming renewable Contract for Difference (CfD) auctions, with at least 50GW of offshore wind delivered by 2030.
- Accelerate the electrification of industrial heat.
- Accelerate tree planting and peatland restoration.
- Publish a strategy to support skills in the transition to renewable sectors.
- Strengthen the UK’s third National Adaption Programme (NAP3).
Next Steps:
The CCC states that the new UK government needs to set out a clear transition to net zero, backed with rapid policy rollout with any barriers to deployment removed. Doing so will build public confidence not only in net zero but in the just nature of the transition. With the UK having met all its carbon budgets to date, the CCC will want this to continue as it publishes its seventh carbon budget in early 2025.
However, the CCC warns that the national consensus that was built to achieve the targets of the previous carbon budgets has frayed. Alongside a policy framework, the Labour government will also have to rebuild this consensus to achieve the UK’s climate goals.
A link to the full report can be found here: Progress in reducing emissions: 2024 Report to Parliament (theccc.org.uk)