The United Kingdom could take a global lead in eliminating net carbon emissions, and at no additional cost to previous estimates.

The report published today by the Committee on Climate Change is in response to a request by the Governments of the UK, Wales and Scotland, who were tasked the with reassessing the UK's long-term emission targets.

The key findings include:

  • The Committee on Climate Change recommends a new emissions target for the UK: net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050.
  • In Scotland, we recommend a net-zero date of 2045, reflecting Scotland’s greater relative capacity to remove emissions than the UK as a whole.
  • In Wales, we recommend a 95% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050.

Full report is available from the Committee on Climate Change website here.