The UK government has been told by its independent climate advisers that it needs to achieve a 13% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, as part of efforts to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) advises that half of homes should have heat pumps and four out of five cars should be electric within the next 15 years.
The CCC says that to meet this goal, significant changes are needed in the way people drive and heat their homes. This includes switching from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles and from fossil fuel boilers to heat pumps.
However, some costs associated with making these changes will still need to be passed on, such as funding for social and environmental schemes. The CCC advises that this could sit on gas bills or general taxation.
The government has historically accepted the CCC’s advice, but if it does now, the target will become legally binding. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said that the government would consider the advice and respond in due course.
The CCC argues that making these changes will not only help reduce emissions, but also save people money on their energy bills and driving costs. They claim that the savings from moving to more efficient technologies should outweigh costs by the early 2040s.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70ekknr2rwo