The UK government has been commended for meeting the latest carbon emissions target set under the country’s Climate Change Act. However, experts warn that this success should not lead to a relaxation of future emissions goals.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC), an independent body advising the government, has praised the achievement of the Third Carbon Budget’s targets, which covered the period from 2018 to 2022. Notably, the targets were met with a surplus, largely due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic—a factor that cannot be relied upon for future reductions.
The Committee’s letter to Minister Graham Stuart underlines the importance of maintaining an ambitious path toward the 2030 emissions reduction commitment and warns against using the ‘surplus’ as an excuse to weaken forthcoming carbon budgets. These budgets are a crucial framework within the Climate Change Act, setting legally binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions over five-year periods.
Read the entire article here: https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/uk-hits-emissions-milestone-but-faces-critical-decision-on-future-targets/
