UK overachieves against 3 consecutive carbon budgets

Building on its track record, the UK has become the first major economy to halve emissions since 1990 while simultaneously growing its economy by around 80 per cent. Between 2018 and 2022, the UK overachieved its legally binding emissions target by 15 per cent as part of Carbon Budget 3. The UK is also set to exceed its goals for Carbon Budget 4, spanning 2023 to 2027, demonstrating that the government's approach to net zero is both proportionate and compatible with meeting climate targets without imposing unnecessary costs on families, the UK government said in a press release.

Under the UK's Climate Change Act, if the country emits fewer emissions than the legal limit, the government has the power to bank the surplus for future carbon budgets. However, the decision not to carry forward this surplus aligns with the advice provided by the independent Climate Change Committee, ensuring that the UK remains within its ambitious targets without additional headroom to emit greenhouse gases in the coming years.

“By deciding not to carry forward our over-performance from the third carbon budget, we are doubling down on our commitment to reach net zero, and we’re already halfway there. This will keep the UK at the forefront of global efforts to cut its emissions, but we will do this while also driving down consumer bills,” said Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Justin Tomlinson.

“The committee congratulates the government on its decision not to carry forward any surplus from the Third Carbon Budget. It’s the right choice. It shows an understanding of both the climate science and the very real need to accelerate progress on emissions reduction,” said Professor Piers Forster, interim chair of the Climate Change Committee.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)