The UK government has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The target, one of the most ambitious set by a major polluting nation, positions the UK at the forefront of the global drive towards a carbon-neutral future. But what does this mean in practice — and is it achievable?
The UN body responsible for climate change — the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — has published a special report assessing what the UK will have to do to reach its goal. It identifies a number of significant challenges. These include replacing gas boilers in homes with low carbon systems; eliminating petrol and diesels cars and replacing them with vehicles that run on electricity or synthetic renewable fuels; and ensuring that power generation no longer emits carbon dioxide into the air.
But is it doable? Climate change experts sound a note of cautious optimism. On the whole they believe decarbonisation is possible — provided that the UK appreciates the scale of the challenge.
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