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UK Sets a New Climate Target: 78 % Emission Cuts by 2035 and a Net‑Zero Roadmap

The United Kingdom has unveiled a bold new climate strategy that will see the nation reduce its greenhouse‑gas emissions by 78 % by 2035 – a target that sits on the cusp of the world’s most ambitious climate plans. The policy, announced by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on Tuesday, is an extension of the government’s Net‑Zero strategy, which was first laid out in 2023, and represents the most ambitious push yet for the country to live up to its Paris Agreement commitments. The plan, set to be formally laid before Parliament in the coming weeks, is a cornerstone of the UK’s “carbon budget” framework and dovetails with a range of other reforms, including the planned ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

A Short‑Term Target That Builds on a Decade of Change

The 78 % cut target for 2035 comes five years earlier than the previously announced 2038 cut target. The new deadline follows a 2023 review of the country’s carbon budgets, which found that the UK was on track to exceed the 1.5 °C temperature limit unless the reduction pace was increased. The target is framed as an interim milestone that will accelerate the country’s overall journey to net‑zero by 2050.

The BEIS announcement emphasised that the policy would not only be a “significant tightening of the net‑zero roadmap” but also an “investment in green technology and job creation.” According to the government, the new target will spur £70 billion of investment in low‑carbon technologies and create 40 000 new jobs by 2035 – a claim that has been welcomed by many environmental groups but remains contested by certain industry stakeholders.

The “Green Finance” Pillar

One of the most striking aspects of the new plan is the focus on green finance. The government intends to mobilise a £4.5 trillion “green finance” fund by 2035, a move that mirrors the European Union’s Green Deal finance push. BEIS Minister for Climate Change, Dr. Aisha Khan, said the fund would “unlock capital for renewable energy projects, carbon‑capture and storage (CCS) plants, and green infrastructure across the country.” The initiative is expected to work in tandem with the existing Green Finance Institute, a public‑private partnership that currently oversees the UK’s green bond market.

The policy also calls for a comprehensive review of the UK’s climate-related financial disclosures. This will align the country with the Task Force on Climate‑Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, making it easier for investors to gauge climate risks and opportunities.

Energy Mix Overhaul

At the heart of the 2035 target lies an overhaul of the UK’s energy mix. The new strategy calls for the construction of 20 GW of offshore wind by 2035 – up from the current 16 GW target – and an increase in the share of renewables in the electricity mix to 80 % by 2035. The plan also calls for the introduction of a “zero‑emission generation quota,” mandating that all new power plants meet stringent carbon‑intensity thresholds. The UK’s power sector, currently 60 % renewable, would need to accelerate development of offshore wind, tidal and green hydrogen projects to close the gap.

A key part of the plan is a “Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage” (CCUS) strategy that will see the government invest heavily in CCS projects at the largest coal‑fired power stations. According to BEIS, a £3 billion investment will bring two pilot CCS plants online by 2027 and lay the groundwork for full‑scale deployment across the UK by 2035.

Transport Reforms: The Zero‑Emission Car Target

The new strategy ties in closely with the UK’s zero‑emission vehicle (ZEV) push. The policy reaffirms the government’s intention to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, a target set out in the UK’s 2022 Clean Motoring Bill. BEIS says the government will provide £50 million in grants to accelerate the rollout of public charging infrastructure, targeting 60 000 charging points by 2030. The plan also includes an ambitious target of 200 000 electric vehicles (EVs) per year by 2028, which would more than double the current fleet of EVs.

The plan acknowledges that the transport sector’s decarbonisation will require both vehicle electrification and a shift toward alternative fuels like hydrogen. The government’s hydrogen roadmap – which aims to install 100 MW of low‑carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2028 – will also receive a £2 billion investment under the 2035 strategy.

Industry and Public Reaction

Reactions to the new target have been mixed. Environmental groups such as the Friends of the Earth welcomed the tightening of the carbon budget, calling it “a clear sign that the UK is taking climate action seriously.” A statement from the group said that the government should “do more” by increasing the 2035 target to 85 % to meet the 1.5 °C limit.

Conversely, industry representatives from the Oil & Gas UK and the Car and Transport Association (CTA) have cautioned that the policy could hurt jobs in traditional sectors. The CTA warned that a rapid transition could lead to a “spike in energy prices” and urged for more support for workers in the fossil‑fuel industry.

The policy has been broadly welcomed by economists who argue that the shift to renewables and low‑carbon technologies will stimulate innovation and long‑term economic growth. However, a few academic voices point out the need for a more detailed transition plan that addresses the potential short‑term economic disruptions.

Moving Forward: The Next Steps

The BEIS plan will be scrutinised by Parliament and will likely face parliamentary debate and potential amendments. The government has pledged to consult with all stakeholders, including local authorities, businesses, and civil society groups, over the next 12 months to refine the policy. The official BEIS website has published a draft white paper that outlines the specific measures for each sector, while a complementary briefing note from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) provides a deeper dive into the carbon budget calculations.

In addition to the UK’s own roadmap, the government will remain committed to collaborating with international partners to align with global climate goals. The policy notes that the UK will actively engage with the European Union’s Green Deal and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that the UK’s ambitious emissions cuts fit within a broader global context.

Bottom Line

With the new 2035 target, the UK has taken a decisive step toward meeting its long‑term net‑zero objective. The plan underscores the government’s willingness to invest heavily in green finance, renewable energy, and low‑carbon technologies. While challenges remain – from industrial resistance to the practicalities of scaling up charging infrastructure – the policy demonstrates that the UK is not only setting a target but also laying out a concrete roadmap to achieve it. The world will be watching closely as the UK pushes ahead on its green journey, setting an example that may influence other nations’ climate ambitions.