Ending the UK’s contribution to global warming by legislating to achieve Net Zero by 2050. We were the first major economy to legislate to be Net Zero by 2050, ending the UK’s contribution to climate change – and we have new a target to reduce our carbon emissions by 68 per cent, compared to 1990 levels, by 2030 (BEIS, Press Release, 3 December 2020, link).
Launching an ambitious Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution, this has already attracted £6 billion of green investments since it was published. We will mobilise £12 billion of government investment to support this goal, which will spur over three times as much private sector investment by 2030. The plan includes quadrupling our production of offshore wind, ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, and protecting and restoring our natural environment by planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year. Other achievements include:
- Securing around £1.5bn of investment into our offshore wind industry, supported by the government’s £160m scheme to upgrade ports and infrastructure. Renewables now represent almost 40 per cent of the UK’s total electricity generation.
- Kicking off the biggest-ever round of our flagship renewable energy scheme for low carbon electricity (Contract for Difference) with £200 million for offshore wind projects and £24m for floating offshore wind.
- Publishing the Hydrogen Strategy to grow the UK hydrogen economy, consulting on design of the £240m Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, and announcing funding of seven real-world hydrogen transport pilots.
- Publishing our Transport Decarbonisation Plan and National Bus Strategy, as well as supporting Coventry to become UK’s first all-electric bus city and consulting on world-leading pledge to end the sale of all new, polluting road vehicles by 2040 and net zero aviation emissions by 2050. This is on top of more than 300 new walking and cycling schemes.
- Launching our North Sea Transition Deal and Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy (Prime Minister’s Office, Press Release¸18 November 2020, link; Prime Minister’s Office, Press Release, 15 October 2021, link).
Putting the UK’s industrial heartlands at the center of our blueprint for a green industrial revolution. From investing £95 million to build two new offshore ports in the Humber region and Teesside, to delivering the North Sea Transition Deal for Scotland, every part of the UK will be included and benefit from our green industrial revolution as we create green jobs and build the industries of the future (BEIS, Press Release, 10 March 2021, link).
Cutting our carbon emissions:
Phasing out coal power completely by 2024, driving us towards net zero. We were the first major economy to set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050–and have enshrined into law a new target to reduce our emissions by78 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. We have already reduced our emissions by 44 per cent between 1990 and 2019, while growing our economy by 78 per cent–the fastest rate in the G7. (BEIS, Press Release, 4 February 2020, link).
Becoming the world leader in clean wind energy, so that in ten years’ time offshore wind will be capable of powering every home in the country. As part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution, we have raised our target for offshore wind production from 30GW to 40GW by 2030, backed by £130 million to upgrade ports and factories making the necessary technology, creating tens of thousands of jobs (Prime Minister’s Office, 6 October 2020, link).
Increasing renewable electricity generation five-fold over the last decade, supporting our transition to net zero. Last year was the greenest year to date for electricity generation – renewable generation is up to 40.2 per cent of total generation, a significant increase on the 8.2 per cent in the same quarter 10 years ago (BEIS, Energy Trends, 22 December 2020, link).
Reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter since coming to office in 2010. In 2010, total greenhouse gases were 600.2 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent. In 2019, this had fallen by 24.2 per cent to 454.9 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (BEIS, 2019 UK greenhouse gas emissions: final figures, 2 February 2021, link).
Ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, cutting carbon emissions across the country. No new petrol or diesel cars will be sold after 2030, although the sale of hybrid cars and vans that can drive a significant distance without emitting carbon can be sold until 2035. To support this transition, we will provide £1.3 billion to accelerate the rollout of chargepoints; £582 million in grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles; and nearly £500 million for the development and mass-scale production of electric vehicle batteries (DfT, News Story, 18 November 2020, link).
Leading the world in tackling climate change:
Hosting COP26 in Glasgow next month, to drive ambitious climate change action around the world. COP26 will be the largest summit the UK has ever hosted, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries, including world leaders, experts, and campaigners as we accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Prime Minister’s Office, Press Release, 8 January 2021, link).
Helping developing nations tackle the causes of climate change, cementing our position as a world leader. We are doubling the UK’s International Climate Finance to more than £11.6 billion over five years, which supports poorer countries deal with the causes of climate change like preventing deforestation and reducing carbon emissions (Prime Minister’s Office, News Story, 11 January 2021, link).
Attracting almost £10 billion at the UK Global Investment Summit. At least 30,000 new jobs will be created around the UK thanks to £9.7 billion of new foreign investment. The package of 18 deals will support growth in vital sectors such as wind and hydrogen energy, sustainable homes and carbon capture and storage, cementing the UK’s climate leadership for COP26 and beyond (DIT, Press Release, 19 October 2021, link).