Engineering news
The government has agreed to cut carbon emissions to an average of 57% below 1990 levels, which is higher than the cuts set out by the European Union.
Amber Rudd accepted the advice in the Committee on Climate Change’s fifth carbon budget, making it legally binding for the UK to cut carbon emissions to 1,765 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, including emissions from international shipping, between 2028-2032.
The Committee on Climate Change said: “This balances a range of factors the Committee must consider, keeps the UK on its cost-effective path to the 2050 legislated commitment to reduce UK emissions by 80% on 1990 levels, and continues the UK’s historical rate of emissions reduction.”
The announcement has allayed fears that government would not stick to climate change goals following the EU referendum. In a move that has come as a relief to the green energy sector, the ambitious targets are actually tougher than those the UK is signed up to as part of the EU, which requires a 40% cut by 2030 on 1990 levels.
Claire Jakobsson, head of energy and environment policy at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “With the unprecedented level of uncertainty created by last week’s referendum result, it is essential that the government looks to provide stability and continuity where it is able to. Confirming the fifth budget at this level provides a positive signal that whatever the UK’s future relationship with the EU is to be, the scale of our emissions reduction ambitions and the direction of travel will remain unchanged.
“Government must now work closely with industry to develop the detail that will underpin this target, ensuring a framework that helps our most energy intensive industries decarbonise competitively, but also drawing on the strengths of UK manufacturing to ensure the UK economy feels the full economic benefit of our decarbonisation drive.”
Dr Jennifer Baxter, head of energy and environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, welcomed the target and said it could help provide more certainty for industry to invest in low carbon technologies.
She added: “However, the target can only be seen as a starting block, as in order to properly tackle the country’s carbon emissions, much more work needs to be done to create a clear pathway with timeframes and milestones for new low-carbon electricity infrastructure to be built, as well as for clear incentives for low carbon technologies to be rolled out in the transport and agriculture sectors. Currently it is still unclear what impact technological changes in the transport, heating and agricultural sectors could have on curbing emissions and we need to invest in research and development, as well as demonstration, to ensure we maximise on the potential of UK innovation.
“The UK’s electricity sector in particular is currently facing a policy vacuum and investors need greater certainty to be able to invest. With the retirement of the majority of the country’s ageing nuclear fleet, proposals to phase out coal-fired power by 2025 and the cut in renewable energy subsidies, the UK is on course to produce even less electricity than it does at the moment.”
Dr Luke Warren, chief executive of the Carbon Capture & Storage Association, said: “The Committee on Climate Change's analysis highlights the importance of developing CCS for the UK and, critically, provides recommendations on the next steps that the Government can take to get CCS on track. The Government has committed to come forward with its new approach to CCS and together with the CCSA’s Lessons Learned report launched yesterday, this report provides a solid evidence base upon which the Government can develop new policy.