• Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget promotes a target for a 78% reduction in GHG emissions by 2035, bringing their target forward by 15 years
• This complements the Government’s 68% reduction by 2030, as announced by the Prime Minister last week
• REA welcomes support for low-carbon technologies, but says concrete policy action is now required and more action should be taken to reduce emissions in the aviation and HGVs sectors

The REA has welcomed the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget, saying it offers a basis from which the government can build their carbon emissions agenda.

The Carbon Budget calls for a 78% reduction in GHG emissions by 2035, bringing the target forward from 2050, as was being proposed last year. Last week the Prime Minister announced the aim of reducing emissions by 68% by the end of 2030.

The Budget also predicts that electric generation will have to double by 2050 to match demand, but this will all be low-carbon, and the hydrogen sector will be as large as the electricity sector by the same date. Support is given to low-carbon technologies, including bioenergy technologies and energy crops, and 78% of peatland should be restored by 2050, with over 50,000 hectares of new forest being planted per year.

However, the REA says solid policy proposals are now needed to deliver this and action must be taken sooner to reduce emissions in the aviation and HGV sectors.

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:

“The headline from the Sixth Carbon Budget will be the 78% reduction in GHG emissions being brought forward by 15 years and that this can be achieved whilst supporting green jobs growth and an economic recovery. There are many additional and welcome elements within the report – the support for a range of bioenergy technologies and energy crops; the doubling of electricity generation which will all be low-carbon; and the restoration of peat landscapes and new woodland, are particular highlights.

“We do believe that more needs to be done with regards to the aviation sector and the heavy goods vehicle market for road transport. The plans to transition to low-carbon alternatives by 2050 and 2040, respectively, are too conservative to have a significant impact. We know that the Capex and Opex savings will balance out any short-term cost if there is the ambition to take action sooner.

“Nevertheless, this Carbon Budget does provide a basis from which the government can look to build their carbon reduction agenda. If we start reducing emissions today rather than tomorrow, we will have a far greater chance of avoiding global temperature rises and tackling climate change.”

—ENDS—

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