United Kingdom

Overall rating
Almost Sufficient

Policies and action
against modelled domestic pathways

Almost Sufficient
< 2°C World

NDC target
against modelled domestic pathways

1.5°C global least cost
< 1.5°C World

NDC target
against fair share

Insufficient
< 3°C World
Climate finance
Highly insufficient
Net zero target

year

2050

Comprehensiveness rated as

Acceptable
Land use & forestry
Not significant

Target Overview

The UK’s climate targets are governed by “carbon budgets”. These limit cumulative GHG emissions over a five-year period and are legally binding. Following the adoption of the UK’s Climate Change Act in 2008, five initial budgets were provided which cover the period from 2008–2032. These budgets were set with the aim of reducing emissions to 80% below 1990 levels in 2050.

In 2019, the UK increased the ambition of its 2050 target to net zero GHG emissions (UK Government 2019d). In 2020, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) provided advice on the Sixth Carbon Budget, which covers the 2033–2037 period (CCC 2020). This provided information on how the UK should increase the ambition of its near-term targets to align with the goal of net zero emissions.

The CCC recommended a 2030 target of reducing GHG emissions to at least 68% below 1990 levels (excluding international aviation and shipping or bunker fuels), alongside a 2035 target of reducing emissions to at least 78% below 1990 levels (including international aviation and shipping). The UK government has since adopted both recommendations. However, the 2030 target is only enshrined in the UK’s NDC, which is not legally binding, and the corresponding carbon budget for the 2028–2032 period has not been updated as of September 2022.

In addition to these UK national targets, the devolved administrations have also set targets. The Scottish government has legislated the following medium-term targets (Scottish Parliament 2019), all of which include LULUCF emissions:

  • 2030: 75% below 1990 levels
  • 2040: 90% below 1990 levels
  • Net zero GHG emissions by 2045

The Welsh government has also set emissions targets (Welsh Government 2021a), all of which include LULUCF emissions:

  • 2030: 63% below 1990 levels
  • 2040: 89% below 1990 levels
  • 2050: 95% below 1990 levels

There are currently no devolved targets for Northern Ireland. England does not have a devolved administration and therefore is bound by the UK wide targets adopted by the UK government.

UNITED KINGDOM - Main climate targets
2030 NDC target
Formulation of target in NDC A reduction of at least 68%, relative to 1990 levels
Absolute emissions level in 2030 excl. LULUCF 251 MtCO2e
[68% below 1990]
[59% below 2010]
Status Submitted on 12 December 2020, updated on 23 September 2022
Net zero target & other long-term targets
Formulation of target It is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for the year 2050 is at least 100% lower than the 1990 baseline.
(The net carbon account includes all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, not just CO2).
Absolute emissions level in 2050 excl. LULUCF 0 MtCO2e*
[100% below 1990]
[100% below 2010]
Status Submitted on 19 October 2021

*The CAT focuses on future emissions excluding LULUCF and international aviation and shipping (international bunker) emissions. The UK’s net zero target covers both LULUCF and international bunkers. The CCC’s path for reaching net zero by 2050 involves residual emissions of ~19 MtCO2e from international bunkers, and also a 19 MtCO2e sink from the LULUCF sector. These offset one another so that 2050 emissions remain at 0 MtCO2e. However, this does not represent a target to reach absolute zero emissions, with residual emissions from aviation and other sectors balanced by removals from LULUCF and engineered CO2 removal.

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