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Thu, December 11, 2025
UK Sets Binding 75% Emissions Reduction Target for 2035
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Published in House and Home on Thursday, December 11th 2025 at 12:46 GMT by BBC- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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BBC News — The UK’s New Climate‑Action Blueprint: A 75 % Emissions Cut by 2035
The British government’s latest climate‑policy announcement has sent a clear signal to the rest of the world that the UK is taking its environmental commitments seriously. In a high‑profile speech delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the United Kingdom will pursue a legally binding target of a 75 % reduction in greenhouse‑gas emissions by 2035, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UK’s own Net‑Zero pledge. The speech, and the policy framework that underpins it, were detailed in a new “Climate‑Action Blueprint” released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on Thursday.
The Core of the Blueprint
At the heart of the Blueprint is a series of ambitious measures that span the entire economy:
Renewable Energy Expansion
The UK aims to reach 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035, up from 8 GW today, and to double the nation’s onshore wind and solar output. New contracts for difference (CfDs) will be introduced to provide price stability for developers, while a “green tariff” will be introduced for households to pay a premium for renewable energy.Net‑Zero Power Sector
The government will phase out unabated coal by 2024, close all fossil‑fuel‑based power stations by 2027, and introduce a new carbon‑pricing scheme for electricity that will increase over time to incentivise low‑carbon generation.Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
The policy earmarks £2 billion for the development of CCS technology, with the goal of capturing 10 MtCO₂ per year by 2035. This will be coupled with a regulatory framework that requires new power plants to install CCS.Energy Efficiency and Building Retrofit
The UK will double the energy‑efficiency standards for new homes and increase the size of the Green Deal to cover 1 million retrofit projects by 2035. Energy‑efficiency grants will also be expanded to help low‑income households reduce heating costs.Transport Decarbonisation
The government will invest £2 billion in electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure and will set a deadline of 2030 for the sale of new internal‑combustion‑engine cars. Public transport will also receive a £1 billion boost to upgrade buses and rail networks to electric or hydrogen power.Climate‑Finance Mobilisation
BEIS will create a £20 billion “green investment fund” to accelerate private‑sector investment in clean‑technology projects. The fund will work in partnership with the Bank of England’s Green Financing Initiative, which was launched last year to provide low‑cost loans to green businesses.
Economic and Social Implications
The policy brief emphasises that the transition will create “millions of high‑quality jobs” and will drive innovation across sectors. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates that the shift to a low‑carbon economy could add £45 billion to the UK’s GDP by 2035, while a separate study by the National Grid predicts that the renewable‑energy boom could support up to 250,000 new jobs in the UK by 2030.
However, the policy also acknowledges the “real economic costs” of the transition, particularly for coal‑dependent communities in the North and Midlands. The Blueprint proposes a “Just Transition Fund” of £3 billion to support retraining, diversification, and infrastructure projects in these regions. Critics from the British coal industry have expressed concern that the pace of the transition may outstrip the UK’s capacity to re‑skill workers.
Links and Context
The article on the BBC website includes several links that provide additional context:
EU Green Deal – A link to a BBC article that explains how the UK’s target aligns with the European Union’s “Fit for 55” package. The link shows that the UK is now one of the few non‑EU countries with a binding 2035 target.
UK Climate Finance Initiative – A reference to a page on the BEIS website that details the £20 billion green investment fund, including eligibility criteria for companies seeking funding.
Carbon Capture Research Hub – A link to the UK’s National Carbon Capture Hub, which is coordinating research and pilot projects across the UK. The article notes that the Hub will partner with universities to accelerate CCS development.
Deloitte’s Climate‑Risk Report – A citation of an industry report that forecasts the financial impact of climate risk on UK banks. The link illustrates how the government’s policy could influence banking regulations.
Reactions
The speech drew applause from environmental groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, who lauded the “bold, comprehensive” nature of the plan. In contrast, the UK’s Association of Engineering and Construction Contractors (AECC) warned that the new regulatory regime could raise costs for contractors and “impede infrastructure development.” Meanwhile, the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) highlighted the need for “public‑private partnerships” to fully realise the economic benefits.
In the House of Commons, the policy was debated in a committee hearing that included testimony from a range of stakeholders, from renewable‑energy firms to coal‑miners’ unions. The Conservative majority voted in favour, while the opposition Labour Party pledged to adopt the plan as a platform for their own climate agenda.
What’s Next?
BEIS will begin publishing detailed sector‑specific implementation plans over the next six months, starting with the energy and transport sectors. The government has also announced a “Climate‑Action Summit” for 2025, where ministers will engage with industry leaders, scientists, and civil society to refine the Blueprint’s operational details.
In summary, the UK’s new climate‑action policy sets an audacious yet achievable target of a 75 % emissions cut by 2035, backed by a suite of economic incentives and safeguards for affected communities. Whether the policy will deliver on its promise remains to be seen, but the policy itself is a landmark moment in the UK’s journey towards a sustainable future.
Read the Full BBC Article at:
[ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79x70gp1q1o ]
