“Urgent action” is required for the UK to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets, according to the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC).
Established by the UK government in 2008, the CCC acts as a non-departmental advisory body on climate change.
In its latest progress report, the CCC said the UK is “not on track” to hit its target to reduce emissions by 68% compared to 1990 levels.
Although the UK became the first major economy to halve its emissions since 1990, the CCC said most of the progress to date has come from phasing out coal-generated electricity.
The government consultants said the country now needs to “rapidly reduce oil and gas use” as well.
© Supplied by SSE ThermalThe UK government is committed to legally binding targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and the CCC pointed to progress made by the previous Conservative government.
This included confirmation of the zero-emission vehicle mandate, leaving the Energy Charter Treaty, and a funding increase for heat pump installation programmes.
But the CCC said these policies are “not enough”, with only a third of the emissions reductions required to achieve the 2030 target “currently covered by credible plans”.
Action is needed across all sectors of the economy to make low-carbon technologies the “norm”, the CCC said.
The report follows a recent High Court decision which found the previous Conservative government’s plan to reduce emissions unlawful for a second time.
2030 emissions target ‘at risk’
Interim chair of the Climate Change Committee Professor Piers Forster said the new Labour government has an opportunity to “course correct” on emissions reduction, but will need to act quickly to “make up for lost time”.
“Action needs to extend beyond electricity, with rapid progress needed on electric cars, heat pumps and tree planting,” Professor Forster said.
“The transition to net zero can deliver investment, lower bills, and energy security.”
Taking action on delivering net zero will also help the UK “keep its place on the world stage”, Professor Forster said, and is a way for the government to “serve both the people of today and the people of tomorrow”.
© Supplied by -The CCC report outlined a list of ten priority policy recommendations, including action to reduce the cost of electricity, reverse recent policy rollbacks, and increase tree planting and peatland restoration.
Other recommended measures include reforms to the CfD auction rounds, implementing a skills strategy, and a strengthened emissions trading scheme to accelerate the electrification of industrial heat.
Most of the technology required to meet the 2030 target is already available, however, the scale up and roll out remains off track, the report added.
Annual offshore wind installations will need to increase by at least three times, while onshore wind installations will need to double, the CCC said.
Meanwhile, solar installations must increase by five times.
In addition, the number of existing UK homes with a heat pump installed will need to increase from around 1% today to approximately 10%, while the market share of new electric vehicles will need to increase from 16.5% last year to nearly 100%.
Labour energy and climate plans
Yesterday, the incoming Labour government outlined its energy and climate policies in the King’s Speech.
The measures included previously announced plans to establish GB Energy in Scotland as well as support for sustainable aviation fuel production and planning reforms.
Last week, Labour also announced former CCC chief executive Chris Stark will take charge of a new emissions reduction focused initiative called ‘Mission Control‘.
© Fred Duval/SOPA Images/ShutterstockStark has previously said the new UK government will require a “Herculean effort” to reach its target of clean power by 2030.
Since coming into office, Labour has also moved quickly to remove a de facto ban on onshore wind in England and approve major solar farms.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband has said the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will be “at the heart” of the new Labour government’s agenda as it seeks to position the UK as a leader in international climate action.
Energy sector says there is “no time to waste”
Speaking to the PA, Industry body Energy UK chief executive Dhara Vyas said the CCC report should act as a wake-up call to policymakers.
“From offshore wind to heat pump installation, the UK isn’t moving fast enough to ensure we reach our carbon budget targets,” Vyas said.
“The cost of inaction is clear. The government spent over £40 billion supporting households during the energy crisis.
“It proved to be essential but could have been avoided if we’d moved faster on building clean homegrown energy sources and improving the energy efficiency of homes and businesses.”
Vyas said there is “no time to waste” for the government to make decisions on issues such as increasing the budget for the next renewables auction and incentives for industrial electrification.
Meanwhile, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said the North Sea oil and gas sector is “on-track to meet its own climate goals and is not slowing down”.
OEUK chief executive David Whitehouse said in 2022, the UK oil and gas sector reduced production emissions by 24% compared to 2018 levels.
“Further emission reductions will be achieved with the help of major capital projects, like carbon capture, floating wind and hydrogen,” he said.
“So the report’s recommendation to ramp up carbon capture and storage projects and boost offshore wind capacity by increasing funding for future licensing rounds are steps in the right direction.
“Much more must be done to capture and store at least 20 to 30 mega tonnes of carbon and generate 50 giga watts of offshore wind by 2030.”
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