The UK became the first major economy in the world to enshrine in law the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 (Climate Change Act 2008, as amended in 2019). This ambitious target requires a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels, including offsetting unavoidable residual emissions through natural or technological solutions. By 2024, the UK had reduced emissions by 50% compared to 1990 levels\u2014significant progress achieved primarily through the phase-out of coal in the power sector and the growth of renewable energy sources. However, the rate of reduction has slowed: in 2023, the reduction was only 1.2%, while an annual reduction of 4-5% is required to meet the 2030 target.
\nThe energy transition remains a central element of the climate strategy. Coal’s share of electricity generation has fallen from 40% in 2012 to less than 2% in 2024, while wind power accounts for 32% of the country’s needs\u2014the largest contribution of any source. Offshore wind farms in the North Sea, such as the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank, will become the largest in the world by 2026. However, dependence on wind creates grid balancing challenges: during calm weather, December electricity prices soar, highlighting the need for investment in energy storage systems and flexible sources, including nuclear power.
\nNuclear power is seen as a strategic element of the green transition. Construction of the Hinkley Point C power station (3.2 GW) continues, with delays and overruns (\u00a335 billion instead of the original \u00a318 billion), but the project remains key to providing baseload power. In 2024, the government approved plans to build Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactors (SMRs), each with a capacity of 470 MW, a more flexible and potentially cheaper solution. However, public debate about safety and waste disposal continues, particularly after the Fukushima disaster.<\/p>\n
\nThe transport sector, responsible for 27% of national emissions, requires radical transformation. A ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel passenger cars from 2030 (and hybrids from 2035) has accelerated the transition to electric vehicles: the share of new electric vehicles reached 28% in 2024. However, charging infrastructure remains inadequate in rural areas and for residents of multi-family buildings without on-site parking. A \u00a31.6 billion investment to install 300,000 public charging points by 2030 aims to address this issue. Aviation and maritime transport, where electrification is more challenging, require the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrogen technologies. Heating buildings is one of the most complex issues. Gas boilers heat 85% of British homes, and replacing them with heat pumps requires colossal investment. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants of up to \u00a37,500 for heat pump installation, but by 2024, less than 30% of the allocated funds had been utilized due to the high installation costs (\u00a312,000\u2013\u00a318,000) and the difficulty of installation in older buildings. The government is considering a phased ban on the installation of new gas boilers in new homes from 2025, but for existing housing stock, the transition will take decades.
\nIndustrial emissions are being reduced through the creation of “carbon capture industrial clusters” in the Humber, Teesside, and North West England. Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technology can capture up to 90% of CO\u2082 from industrial processes and store it under the North Sea. The Northern Endurance Partnership project has received \u00a3217 million in government funding to build the storage infrastructure. However, critics point to the high cost of the technology (\u00a360\u2013\u00a3100 per tonne of CO\u2082) and the risk of leaks, as well as concerns that CCUS will prolong the life of fossil fuels rather than accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources.
\nAgriculture and land use play a dual role: on the one hand, the sector is responsible for 10% of emissions (primarily methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from fertilizers), on the other, forests and peatlands can absorb carbon. The Green Countryside Strategy encourages farmers to restore peatlands, plant forests, and transition to regenerative farming through the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). By 2028, the plan is to restore 35,000 hectares of peatlands and plant 30,000 hectares of forests annually. However, farmer organizations criticize the complexity of bureaucratic procedures and the insufficient compensation for the transition.
\nInternational climate diplomacy remains a foreign policy priority. Hosting COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 strengthened the UK’s position as a leader in climate negotiations. Since then, London has been actively promoting the Powering Past Coal Alliance and the methane reduction initiative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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