Chloe’s Office reporting back: UK to end its contribution to global warming

 

Protecting Our Environment is one of the key 6 points that Chloe is focusing her work on. In her absence whilst she is on Maternity Leave, her office is pleased to share the following information with you.

This week, the Government announced that the UK will become the first major economy in the world to end its contribution towards global warming, introducing a new law to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Last year the Government commissioned an independent panel of experts to advise on achieving net zero. After careful consideration of their report, published in May, the Prime Minister has now announced that the UK will legislate to end its contribution to global warming.

The UK has reduced emissions faster than any other advanced country in the world, with 2018 the cleanest and greenest year on record. By legislating for net zero, will now go even further, phasing out coal power, committing billions of pounds to develop new renewable technologies and creating hundreds of thousands of low carbon jobs.

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark said:

“The UK has always been a global leader in tackling climate change - from being the first country to raise the issue on the international stage, to cutting emissions faster than all major economies and quadrupling renewable electricity so that over half is now produced from low-carbon sources.

“We want to continue our global leadership and that’s why we are introducing a legally binding net zero target to end the UK’s contribution to global warming entirely by 2050. The report we commissioned from the Committee on Climate Change makes clear that we have laid the foundations to achieve a net zero emissions economy, and that it is necessary and feasible.

“Almost 400,000 people are already employed in the low-carbon sector and its supply chains across the country.  Through our modern Industrial Strategy we’re investing in clean growth to ensure we reap the rewards and create two million high quality jobs by 2030.

“This will create a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.”

Key points:

·         The Government is introducing legislation that will set a target of net zero emissions in law, ensuring we protect the planet for future generations. The Government will upgrade the existing target of an 80 per cent reduction in emissions in the Climate Change Act, to achieve 100 per cent, or net zero emissions, by 2050.

The UK are already leading the world in our efforts to tackle climate change by:

·         Phasing out coal power, leading to two full weeks without burning any coal – the longest time since the Industrial Revolution. Britain has already had 1,500 coal free hours in 2019 so far, as total coal power use has dropped by almost two-thirds compared with the first four months of 2018. The UK will phase out unabated coal completely by 2025.

·         Supporting renewable technologies, securing the future of clean energy in the UK. £92 billion has been invested by businesses in clean energy since 2010 and renewables now generate 37.1 per cent of the UK’s electricity, up from 6.1 per cent in 2010.

·         Creating hundreds of thousands of low carbon jobs, growing the economy while reducing emissions. Investment has meant there are almost 400,000 people working in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country.

UK efforts are already having a positive impact:

·         Reducing greenhouse gases by a quarter since coming to office in 2010. In 2010, total greenhouse gases were 600.2 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent. In 2018, this had fallen by 25 per cent to 448.5 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent.

·         Increasing renewable electricity generation six-fold since 2009. 2018 was the greenest year to date for electricity generation, with renewable sources supplying a record 33 per cent of electricity in 2018, up from 29 per cent in 2017, and up from 6.7 per cent in 2009.

·         The UK is reducing emissions faster than any other G20 country. A study by PwC found that the UK has decarbonised faster than any other G20 country, reducing emissions by 29 per cent in the last decade alone, while continuing to grow our economy.