Britain’s climate change advisers have set out a detailed plan to reach the country’s net zero target by 2050. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has recommended that the government take significant steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including a massive switch to electric vehicles, heat pumps, and eating less meat.
By 2030, nearly all new car sales should be electric, with 80% of cars on the road being fully electric by 2040. Over half of homes should also be heated by heat pumps by 2040, up from just 1% now. This will require a significant increase in renewable electricity to power these systems.
The CCC has also recommended that meat consumption falls by 25% by 2040 and 35% by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. This reduction is expected to be achieved through the development of cheaper and tastier meat alternatives.
The plan aims to cut emissions by 87% compared with 1990 levels by 2040, in line with targets set under the international Paris Climate agreement. Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions fell almost 53% by the end of 2023 due to cuts in the power sector, but the CCC warns that more action is needed.
The government has adopted previous carbon budgets put forward by the CCC and will need to show how it plans to meet its legally binding climate targets. The plan is designed to create opportunities for the economy, tackle climate change, and bring down household bills.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/britain-needs-huge-switch-evs-heat-pumps-eat-less-meat-hit-net-zero-2025-02-26