The UK‘s national climate plan is set to ‘propel the country to net zero’ and ‘sets an example for the world’, the World Resources Institute (WRI) has said.
The UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC, which was first announced at COP29, aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 levels and achieve a net zero economy by 2035. It aligns with the UK Climate Change Committee’s recommendations and the legally binding Climate Change Act, which sets a target for net zero emissions by 2050.
‘A clear, detailed plan’
“The United Kingdom has laid out a clear, detailed plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, dial down fossil fuels, power up clean energy, and reform food and land use,” commented Edward Davey, head of World Resources Institute’s UK office.
Among the commitments are a ban on new fossil fuel exploration licenses, ending petrol car sales by 2030 – five years earlier than the EU – and accelerating investment in renewables.
Following the United States’ pledge to roll back its climate commitments, the UK’s pledge is “an encouraging sign of leadership, […] and will hopefully catalyse a new wave of ambition from other countries,” Davey commented.
“The plan puts people at the heart of the climate transition, which is key for its long-term success,” he said. “It will lower electricity bills, increase innovation, and build a strong future for the country with jobs in emerging industries. In an increasingly uncertain world, it strengthens the UK’s resilience to a changing climate and helps provide long-term energy security.”
In addition, the UK has reaffirmed its pledge of £11.6 billion for international climate finance in 2025–2026, including £3 billion allocated specifically for nature-related initiatives. This funding is expected to support initiatives such as the Global Clean Power Alliance and partnerships aimed at reducing tropical deforestation.
Carbon Budget Delivery Plan
Attention now turns to the 6th Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, Davey added, “which is expected to provide detailed guidance for delivering the NDC. Critical decisions remain, particularly on aviation, biofuels, diets and farming. The government’s stance on new oil and gas licenses — aligned with commitments first made at COP26 at Glasgow — will be closely watched.
“In the coming months, it will be vitally important for the UK government to follow up on today’s ambitious NDC with clear policy signals, concrete delivery plans, and budget decisions aligned with the commitments set out today.”
The UK is the eighth country to submit its updated NDC under the Paris Agreement, ahead of the UN deadline of February 2025. Read more here and here.
