Government document finds 2030 targets will be missed

The Government's new analysis released in March has implied that the 2030 Paris Agreement target to cut emissions by 68% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels, is not set to be met.

A document produced by the government, "Powering up Britain" has outlined that the current revamped net zero strategies is only set to meet 92% of the "nationally determined contribution", committed to under the Paris Agreement. The official assessment of the nationally determined contribution states (NDC):

"We have quantified emissions savings to deliver 88 megatonnes or 92% of the NDC. We are confident that the delivery of emissions savings by unquantified policies detailed in this package will largely close this gap and the government will bring forward further measures to ensure [it] will meet its international commitments if required."

Powering up Britain sets out the package being used to achieve energy security and net zero objectives, which includes:

• delivering Great British Nuclear, a programme to driving new nuclear projects in Great Britain;
• making a world-leading commitment to Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage, which includes eight new projects;
• delivering a hydrogen economy;
• accelerating deployment of renewables;
• reducing our reliance on fossil fuels to heat our buildings, with an ambition to phase out all new and replacement natural gas boilers by 2035;
• reducing household bills by increasing energy efficiency;
• decarbonising transport, with a final consultation on the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate;
• speeding up planning and networks, publishing published a revised set of energy national policy statements for consultation, covering overarching energy, renewables, electricity networks, gas generation, and pipelines;
• mobilising private investment;
• building on the COP26 presidency.

The head of politics at Green Alliance think tank commented on the analysis: "Our analysis shows that even that 92% is a very generous reading. It is hard to celebrate an announcement that says itself it’s not enough. The bottom line is that this plan doesn’t plot a route to net zero. There are only so many times we can claim climate leadership while falling short of our own targets."

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: "People should be really proud of the UK's track record on all of this. If you look at it, we've decarbonised faster than any other major economy. Our carbon emissions have been reduced by over 40%, much more than all the other countries that we compete with."

For more information on this subject, see:

• Powering up Britain.