The UK Climate Change Committee presents a new report with recommendations to achieve decarbonization in the UK by 2050. Electrification s for 60% of emission reductions by 2040. This includes the decarbonization of the grid and the replacement of fossil-fuel-powered cars and heating systems with electric alternatives (electric vehicles and heat pumps). 11v54

The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has presented a new report with recommendations to achieve decarbonization in the UK by 2050. The committee asserts that emissions need to be reduced by 87% compared to 1990 levels by 2040 and suggests pathways to achieve this goal.

Key findings from the CCC 1f584y

Electrification s for 60% of the emission reductions by 2040. This includes the decarbonization of the grid and replacing fossil fuel-powered cars and heating systems with electric alternatives (electric vehicles and heat pumps).

According to the report, global investment in clean energy is now almost double that in fossil fuels, and clean energy investment is expected to reach $2 trillion in 2024.

In of technology deployment, achieving a similar result to what has happened in comparable countries (the Netherlands and Ireland) and previous technology deployments in the UK (mobile phones, refrigerators, and internet connection) will be essential. Investment in this decade will generate savings over time.

These savings will materialize across economies during the Seventh Carbon Budget period (2038–2042) and increase through 2050 and beyond. The net costs of achieving this are estimated to average 0.2% of GDP per year.

If these measures are taken, the CCC expects energy bills to decrease. By 2050, if the plan is implemented, annual household energy bills will be approximately £700 cheaper than today. The plan includes additional investments and for certain households.

Regarding energy security, energy shocks have been responsible for more than half of the recessions since the 1970s. If the country decarbonizes against our Balanced Pathway and a gas price shock similar to the one after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine were to occur, average household energy bills in 2040 would be 15 times less sensitive.

Emission reduction by sector 364x2g

27% of the emission reductions for 2040 come from surface transport. Electric vehicles have a measurable effect on emission reductions. This will accelerate in the coming years as prices fall and sales increase, with fully electric vehicles ing for almost all new car and van sales by 2030 and more than three-quarters of the fleet in circulation by 2040.

14% of the emission reductions for 2040 come from housing (residential buildings). The supply chains and workforce for low-carbon heating installers should expand during the 2020s so that all new and replacement domestic heating installations are low-carbon (mainly heat pumps) by the middle of the next decade.

12% of the emission reductions for 2040 come from electricity supply. The demand for electricity will increase, especially during the 2030s, driven by the shift to electric vehicles and heat pumps. To meet this growth and decarbonize the system, low-carbon power generation is being rapidly implemented. Offshore wind energy is the backbone of the future system.

11% of the emission reductions for 2040 come from industry. The majority of the emission reductions come from electrifying industrial thermal processes. Carbon capture and storage are important to address emissions from these processes and should be focused on industrial subsectors with limited alternatives. Hydrogen will play a small but important role in subsectors that may struggle to electrify.

7% of the emission reductions for 2040 come from agriculture and land use. Low-carbon agricultural practices and technologies, including measures for livestock and the decarbonization of machinery, can achieve a substantial reduction in agricultural emissions. Achieving net-zero emissions in the agriculture and land use sectors will also require a reduction in livestock numbers, especially to free up land for tree planting.

5% of the emission reductions for 2040 come from aviation. The growth in aviation demand is managed by ensuring that the cost of decarbonizing aviation is reflected in flight prices. The proportion of sustainable aviation fuel used increases gradually, and by the 2040s, a growing share of this fuel will come from synthetic fuels.

24% of the emission reductions for 2040 come from other sectors. Emissions are reduced in fuel supply, fluorinated gases, non-residential buildings, shipping, and waste. Engineered removals will also gradually increase from 2030 to reach the required levels by 2050.

Interim CCC Chair, Professor Piers Forster, commented: “The Committee is delighted to be able to present good news about how the country can decarbonize while generating savings across the economy. For a long time, decarbonization in this country has really focused on the energy sector, but now we need to see action in transport, buildings, industry, and agriculture. This will create opportunities in the economy, tackle climate change, and reduce household bills.

“Our analysis shows that it is not necessary to adopt measures to combat climate change at the expense of the economy. We will need the Government and businesses to make the necessary investments, but we are confident that this Seventh Carbon Budget offers a safe and prosperous future for the UK,” he concluded.