The UK government has set out plans for the country's seventh carbon budget, proposing a "science-led" greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal of 87pc in 2038-42, from 1990 levels, in line with advice from the independent advisory Climate Change Committee (CCC).
Carbon budgets, which are legally-binding in the UK, cap the total GHG emissions that the UK can emit over five-year periods.
The government has proposed a limit of 535mn t/CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in the 2038-42 period, including the UK's share of international aviation and shipping emissions, in line with the CCC's recommendation. This is "consistent with the Paris Agreement" and its most ambitious target to curb the global rise in temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the government said today.
"Moving at pace to clean energy and net zero emissions is the best choice to reduce the exposure of UK families and businesses to more fossil fuel shocks", the government said. The net cost for the UK to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050 is lower than "a single fossil fuel price shock", the CCC said in March.
The government will publish a delivery plan, explaining how the seventh carbon budget will be met, "as soon as is reasonably practical after parliament has approved the budget", climate minister Katie White said today.
The government highlighted recent moves to ramp up renewable energy and nuclear energy, to cut energy costs and improve energy security. The proposed seventh carbon budget "sends an economy-wide signal to investors and businesses, providing long-term certainty which will encourage investment and growth", White said.
"The only way to protect family and business finances is to drive for clean homegrown power that we control", energy minister Ed Miliband said.
The seventh carbon budget must be approved by both the upper and lower houses of UK parliament and set in law by the end of June. The UK has met its first three carbon budgets, reducing GHGs by 50pc over 1990-2022, largely through decarbonising the power sector and shutting down coal-fired power generation.
The UK has a legally-binding target to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
