The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has offered advice on the
level of the country's 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution
(NDC) to the UK Government, at the request of Secretary of
State for Energy, .
You can read the letter
here.
The CCC recommends that the UK's NDC commits to
reduce territorial greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 to
2035. This is based on the CCC's advice on the UK's
Seventh Carbon Budget, due to be published in February 2025. It
is informed by the latest science, technological developments,
and the UK's national circumstances.
Professor Piers Forster, interim Chair of the Climate
Change Committee, said:
“With climate damages already felt around the world, targeting an
81% emissions reduction by 2035 sets the right level of ambition.
Our analysis shows this can be achieved in a way that benefits
jobs and the economy, provided we hit the country's 2030 target -
set in line with the CCC's advice in 2020.
“The technologies needed to achieve it are available, at a
competitive price, today. Investment in low carbon technologies –
electric vehicles, heat pumps, and renewables – needs to come now
for this target to be achievable. Businesses will start to invest
when they have confidence in what the Government's long term
policy plans are. We need to see the Government's commitment to
climate reflected in the upcoming Budget.”
“More than any commitment, what we really need is action. I have
no doubt that the United Kingdom can once again be a leader on
the international stage – in both deeds and words.”
Notes to editors
-
The CCC's advice on the NDC does not include international
aviation and shipping (IAS) emissions in the target. This is in
line with UNFCCC convention. Further details are in the annex
of the letter.
-
The 2030 NDC is a 68% reduction against 1990 levels. This
also doesn't include IAS emissions.
-
The CCC's Sixth Carbon Budget (published in 2020) includes
the year 2035. The emissions reduction in the Sixth Carbon
Budget for 2035 is 78% against 1990 levels. The Sixth Carbon
Budget advice does include IAS emissions, and these emissions
must be addressed to meet this target.
-
Today's advice on the 2035 NDC is informed by the latest
science, as required by the UNFCCC. Emissions accounting has
changed slightly since the publication of the Sixth Carbon
Budget. The recommended 81% is consistent with the ambition
legislated in the Sixth Carbon Budget. The letter annex sets
this out in further detail.
-
The letter will be available at this link when it goes
live