Gaïa
UK Climate Targets
The UK has implemented a range of legally-binding climate targets with the overarching aim of achieving a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.
Net Zero by 2050
Aims to make the amount of emissions produced equal to the amount removed
Transport
Sale ban of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, to boost electric vehicles.
Investment in walking and cycling infrastructure
Renewable Energy
All electricity to be generated from clean, renewable sources by 2035 to reduce dependence on fossil fuels
Reforestation
Plant 30,000 hectares of trees annually by 2025, to contribute to the absorption of CO2 and support the UK's net-zero target
Heat Pumps
Installation of 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028
Energy Efficiency
Inititatives such as the Green Homes Grant and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme aim to reduce energy consumption and transition to low-carbon heating solutions
The UK has also established a series of five-year carbon budgets, which serve as a legal roadmap towards achieving net zero. These budgets specify the necessary levels of emissions reductions in the short to medium term. The first two carbon budgets were met, and the third is projected to be achieved.
Energy Transition
Energy mix
The UK is undergoing an energy transition in the aim to reduce climate impacts and meet targets.
The UK's energy mix is diverse. Natural gas is the most extensively used source, particularly for heating and electricity generation. The country also heavily relies on renewable energy, including wind, solar, and hydro sources. Nuclear power plants further contribute a significant portion to electricity generation, whereas coal usage has significantly declined.
The UK's high dependency on imported natural gas is a major concern, as it exposes the country to potential supply disruptions due to geopolitical tensions or infrastructural issues. The overreliance on imported energy has led to increased discussions about diversifying energy sources and striving for greater self-sufficiency in energy production.
Similarly, the ageing nuclear power plants open up vulnerabilities related to potential breakdowns and their subsequent impact on energy security. Also, extreme weather events can impact energy supplies, especially for renewable sources like wind and solar.
UK share of energy generation 1990-2022 (IEA, 2024)
Electricity accounts for around 20% of the UK's total energy use.
The electricity mix directly impacts the carbon emissions associated with electricity use.
In the past, the UK mainly used fossil fuels to produce electricity. These are known for contributing to global warming. However, the UK has been using more and more renewable energy sources.
These sources, like wind, solar, hydroelectric, and bioenergy, use natural resources like the sun, wind, rivers, and organic materials to produce electricity. They don't release many, if any, harmful gases, so they're important for fighting climate change.
Electricity mix
In 2020, renewable sources became the main way the UK generates electricity for the first time. They made up 43% of the electricity mix. Whilst it's important to note that the goal isn't for renewables to be the only source of energy, they play a crucial role in fighting climate change. Forecasts suggest that the UK will indeed use a lot more renewable energy in the future, specifically offshore wind and solar (based on investment and the UK's weather conditions).
At the same time, the UK has been using a lot less coal to produce electricity, dropped to just 1% in 2023. As a result, clean power sources provided more than half (51%) of the UK's electricity in 2023. Gas and coal made up 32% and 1% of the electricity mix, respectively.
In 2020, renewable sources became the main way the UK generates electricity for the first time. They made up 43% of the electricity mix. Whilst it's important to note that the goal isn't for renewables to be the only source of energy, they play a crucial role in fighting climate change. Forecasts suggest that the UK will indeed use a lot more renewable energy in the future, specifically offshore wind and solar (based on investment and the UK's weather conditions).
At the same time, the UK has been using a lot less coal to produce electricity, dropped to just 1% in 2023. As a result, clean power sources provided more than half (51%) of the UK's electricity in 2023. Gas and coal made up 32% and 1% of the electricity mix, respectively.
UK share of electricity generation 1990-2022 (IEA, 2024)
Climate Policy: Challenges and Solutions
Despite its commitment to reach net-zero emissions, the UK faces significant challenges in achieving this goal.
Changing Mindsets
The biggest challenges are not technical, but involve changes in policy, regulation, and markets. Current systems, designed for fossil fuel-generated energy, need urgent updating. This includes fixing market failures, implementing policy interventions such as carbon pricing, and changing how social and network levies are implemented. Achieving net-zero emissions must be central to decision-making to make change happen.
Policy Priorities
Another concern is the UK's policy priorities. A report by the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) suggests that the UK is focusing on short-term political goals, which leads to uncertainty for investors. This, along with issues in governance and regulation, delays in grid access, and unfavorable flexibility markets, hinders the deployment of renewable energy in the UK. Clear governance and regulatory stability are needed to attract investors.
Electricity Demand
By 2035, the UK's electricity demand is predicted to rise by 50%. To meet this demand, the UK needs to significantly increase its ability to produce and store electricity. This includes developing renewable energy sources and large-scale electricity storage solutions, like batteries and hydrogen, quickly.
Energy, Not Just Electricity
Using renewables for low-cost energy, not just electricity, is another big challenge. Even though renewables are increasingly providing electricity, our use of gas and oil for heating and transport is still high. This highlights the need for reduced energy demand and increased efficiency. However, efforts to improve energy efficiency have stalled.
Climate Change Adaptation
According to the Climate Change Commitee– an external organisation which assesses the UK's situation with regards to climate topics– the UK is not prepared for climate change adaptation. The CCC argues future policy must be more ambitious and focused on effective adaptation.
Climate Justice
The fight against climate change has brought the idea of climate justice to the forefront. This concept focuses on the unequal effects of environmental degradation and climate change on vulnerable communities. With its colonial past and significant historical carbon emissions, the UK is in a unique position to address past wrongs and work towards a more just future.
Unequal Impacts
Climate change will not impact countries in an even or consistent way. Climate risks disproportionately affect the poorest countries and people, who are more exposed and more vulnerable to their impacts. Yet, those most vulnerable to climate change, predominantly found in developing economies, contribute the least to the accumulation of greenhouse gases.
Wealthier countries have the resources to invest in systems and infrastructure that prevent displacement. Richer households are less likely to have to move. There are also factors within households that matter too. Gender, age and health play a huge role in who can and cannot move – even within the same household.
Historical Emissions
Current greenhouse gas emissions are largely tied to a nation's wealth. Wealthy countries, constituting only 16 percent of the global population, are responsible for nearly 40 percent of CO2 emissions. Conversely, the two poorest categories of countries, according to the World Bank classification, make up almost 60 percent of the world's population, but contribute less than 15 percent to emissions. In the United States, emissions stand at around 20 metric tons of CO2-equivalent per person per year—approximately double the amount per person in the European Union or China, and nearly 10 times the amount in India.
This cross-country inequality has historical roots: developed economies' contribution to global warming exceeds their current emissions share because they have been contributing to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere for a longer period. For instance, the United States contributes 25 percent to cumulative emissions, the European Union 22 percent, China 13 percent, and India just 3 percent. These figures are different to their contribution to current annual emissions.
Climate Change and Colonialism
A report by Greenpeace UK and the Runnymede Trust points out that the big environmental problems we face today are closely linked to colonialism in the past. Colonialism is when a country takes control of another country and uses it for its own benefit.
During colonial times, the powerful countries (mainly in the northern part of the globe) used the lands and air of the less powerful countries (mainly in the southern part of the globe) as dumping grounds for their waste. They also took a lot of resources from these countries. This caused a lot of harm to the environment, and this harm continues today.
Because of these old colonial practices, the countries in the south are now suffering the most from climate change, even though they did the least to cause it. Furthermore, the unequal global power dynamics established during colonial times continue to influence international environmental negotiations.
Domestic Inequalities
In terms of environmental justice within the UK, communities that were historically marginalized during colonial times, including people of color and working-class communities, are often those most affected by environmental issues today. They are more likely to live in areas with poor air quality, have less access to green spaces, and are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In addition, issues like fuel poverty and energy crises disproportionately affect low-income households and marginalized communities, intensifying existing social inequalities.
Conflicts of Interest and Lobbying
Lobbying on climate change involves companies and their representatives attempting to directly or indirectly sway decisions related to climate change made by political or administrative entities. The effectiveness and rigour of public climate policy can be significantly impacted, either positively or negatively, by these lobbying efforts.
Fossil fuel companies have a history of lobbying against climate policies, arguing they would be costly. They have funded economists to support their stance. One notable example is the American Petroleum Institute, whose lobbying strategy since the 1990s resulted in significant policy delays, including the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and the US's early exit from the Paris Agreement.
These conflicts of interest can severely undermine progress in tackling climate change.
However, as more and more companies publicly commit to climate action, lobbying practices are increasingly coming under scrutiny.
Climate Migration and Displacement
Climate change is increasingly becoming a driving factor behind displacement and migration, with catastrophic events like hurricanes and flash floods, as well as gradual impacts such as sea-level rise and drought, rendering areas uninhabitable. While the majority of displaced individuals remain within their own countries, climate change will likely re-shape patterns of migration and displacement.
Disproportionately affecting low-income countries, climate change intersects with many other causes of displacement, which increases complexity and makes predicting future patterns difficult. The IPCC highlights socio-economic factors and household resources as key forces that influence whether someone is vulnerable to being displaced by a climate-related event.
Also, whilst the debate has been centred on militarised borders and climate migration, it is crucial to note that some people may want or need to migrate in response to climate change, but can’t. The same climate-driven events that mean they may want to move could also have pushed them into a state of poverty and insecurity that actually makes moving impossible. Moving usually requires money and resources. Climate change may have eroded these to a point where migration is no longer an option. This reflects the wider inequalities present within climate impacts.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity, the variety of life within a habitat or ecosystem, is crucial for the health and well-being of all living organisms.
Ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification, and carbon sequestration are integral to human well-being and the functioning of ecosystems. The loss of biodiversity can disrupt these services, leading to adverse impacts on human health, food security, and the economy. As such, protecting biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem resilience, sustainability, and the continued provision of these vital services.
In the UK, there is a rising concern over the decline in biodiversity due to factors such as habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.
Habitat loss, driven by urbanisation, agriculture, and infrastructure development, is a significant threat to biodiversity. This loss results in the fragmentation and destruction of natural habitats, endangering many species.
According to the State of Nature report, the UK is one of the world's most nature-depleted countries's, and its' wildlife is undergoing a significant decline. It is estimated around 16% (of the more than 10,000 species assessed are facing potential extinction in Great Britain. This percentage is significantly larger for certain groups, for example with 43% of birds and 31% of amphibians and reptiles. The study also highlights concerning declines in distribution, notably in over half of plant species and mosses.
Despite the predominantly poor condition of the UK's biodiversity, the report highlights that restoration projects can significantly improve many species and habitats. However, they need to be amplified in terms of both scale and ambition. At present, only a fifth of farmland participates in agri-environment schemes, and only a fraction of this land actively contributes to nature conservation.
Therefore, a large push in restoration and conservation efforts is crucial for the future of the UK's biodiversity.
