The UK should commit to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, which would send a strong signal internationally, the independent body tasked with advising the UK recommended on Saturday. A few days before COP29, which will be held from November 11 to 22 in Azerbaijan, the Labor Government has requested the opinion of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) on its plan to reduce CO2 emissions, or “determined contributions to national level” (CDN).
As a signatory to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the UK is due to publish an updated version by February 2025, covering the next decade. “Given the climate damage already seen around the world, targeting an 81% emissions reduction by 2035 is the right level of ambition,” said Professor Piers Forster, acting president of the CCC, in a letter to the British Energy Minister, Ed Miliband.
Currently with almost a 50% reduction in emissions compared to 1990
The United Kingdom has committed to reducing its emissions by 68% by 2030 compared to 1990, and to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. “It is currently experiencing an emissions reduction of almost 50%,” indicates the climatologist. Corinne Le Quéré, member of the CCC. and former president of the High Council for Climate. The British government will study this recommendation and, according to it, could use COP29 to reveal without delay its target for 2035. “Setting a target is not enough. However, the United Kingdom must meet its international commitments through action at national level.” the CCC added in its letter.
These NDCs will be at the center of discussions at COP30 in Brazil at the end of 2025. They are the “most important” documents produced since the beginning of the century, said UN Climate chief Simon Stiell, urging nations in the world to establish more ambitious policies. goals. The climate action of States must take a “leap forward” in the coming months, otherwise the hope of keeping global warming below 1.5°C “will soon die”, the UN also warned on Thursday in a report which indicates the absence of significant progress for a year.
These climate experts are calling on the British Labor Party, which came to power in early July, to “take urgent action” to accelerate the electrification of road transport, the heating of buildings and the restoration of nature and forests.
Labor budget plans spending cuts
Corinne Le Quéré also emphasizes that the United Kingdom is “not currently on track” towards its next level of 68% emissions reduction by 2030, despite recent measures on wind energy or the exit from coal. “The Government’s commitment to the climate must be reflected in the next budget”, which will be announced on Wednesday, also stated Piers Forster. But their hopes are at risk of being dashed as Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated this first Labor budget should be “painful”, with tax rises and spending cuts.
In September 2023, Climate Action Tracker (CAT) experts considered the British objectives “insufficient” and accused the Conservative government of the time of “destroying the long-standing ambitions of the United Kingdom”, which wanted to be in power. at the forefront of the fight against climate change. At the time, Rishi Sunak’s government had backtracked on its flagship policies and raised the ire of environmentalists by granting new oil and gas exploration licenses in the North Sea.
Source: BFM TV