Research from the Government funded Energy Systems Catapult has claimed that becoming climate neutral by 2050 is possible but still a huge challenge.
Originally published in 2015, the "Options, Choices, Actions" report illustrates two cost-optimised decarbonisation pathways for the UK energy system to meet its 2050 climate targets.
The two pathways have been called clockwork and patchwork, with both taking into account different scenarios.
The report has outlined that in order to reach the current goal of 2050, people would need to stop flying and almost completely stop eating red meat.
To achieve the 2050 goal, the Government will need to invest heavily in new technologies including bioenergy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), new nuclear, offshore wind, gaseous systems, the efficiency of vehicles and efficiency/heat provision for buildings the report claims.
The updated report "Options, Choices, Actions: How could the UK be low carbon by 2050?" originally written in 2015, has said the UK can achieve an affordable transition to a low carbon energy system over the next 35 years with the right planning.
Modelling from Energy Systems Catapult has shown abatement costs ranging from 1-2% of GDP by 2050, with the potential to achieve the lower end of this range through effective planning.
The report shows that the 2050 target is possible, and the Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Wills, has said:
"It is our hope that these scenarios can help ensure the debate on how best to achieve the low carbon transition is based on informed evidence."
