This is how the UK plans to cut emissions to zero by 2050
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London — Taxes on frequent flyers, more wind and solar power, and better protection for nature should be key policies in Britain’s push to meet its promise to cut emissions to net zero by 2050, a citizens’ assembly advised the country’s legislators on Thursday.
But its final recommendations in a report to parliament did not back nuclear power, efforts to capture and store climate-changing carbon emissions, or limits on driving and flying.
The assembly said future changes should follow principles of fairness — particularly for those less able to adapt — as well as freedom of choice, and strong, consistent government leadership on climate action with cross-party support.
“They didn’t want policies to change with every successive government,” noted Chris Shaw, parliamentary director for the Climate Assembly UK, a 108-member panel created to provide citizen input on meeting Britain's climate change goals.
Alok Sharma, Britain’s business minister and president of the now-delayed COP26 UN climate change summit in Glasgow, said parliament would look at the findings over the next two months and “see what more we can do”.
Assembly members urged the government to rapidly adopt its recommendations and “be bold” in dealing with climate risks.
“People are willing to change if educated properly and given the facts,” noted Marc Robson, a panel member and smart-meter fitter for British Gas who is now retraining to install electric vehicle charging points.
The assembly, selected to reflect diversity in Britain's demographics and views on climate change, met over a series of weekends from January to May — with the Covid-19 crisis pushing some sessions online — to learn about options to cut emissions.
Their recommendations, including on how to handle the pandemic recovery, aim to help parliament understand which shifts most voters back, and which ideas may need a rethink.
“This report is a striking tribute to the common sense of the British public,” said Tom Burke, chair of independent climate change think-tank E3G.
Panel members said, for instance, that they supported efforts to cut meat and dairy consumption by 20%-40% — but the dietary changes needed to be voluntary and achieved through education and government promotion.
They backed energy-efficiency upgrades for homes and new heating technologies, but asked that each house be retrofitted “in one go” to cut disruption for occupants.
Homeowners, depending on where they live and other factors, should be able to choose among different technologies, from heat pumps ...
But its final recommendations in a report to parliament did not back nuclear power, efforts to capture and store climate-changing carbon emissions, or limits on driving and flying.
The assembly said future changes should follow principles of fairness — particularly for those less able to adapt — as well as freedom of choice, and strong, consistent government leadership on climate action with cross-party support.
“They didn’t want policies to change with every successive government,” noted Chris Shaw, parliamentary director for the Climate Assembly UK, a 108-member panel created to provide citizen input on meeting Britain's climate change goals.
Alok Sharma, Britain’s business minister and president of the now-delayed COP26 UN climate change summit in Glasgow, said parliament would look at the findings over the next two months and “see what more we can do”.
Assembly members urged the government to rapidly adopt its recommendations and “be bold” in dealing with climate risks.
“People are willing to change if educated properly and given the facts,” noted Marc Robson, a panel member and smart-meter fitter for British Gas who is now retraining to install electric vehicle charging points.
The assembly, selected to reflect diversity in Britain's demographics and views on climate change, met over a series of weekends from January to May — with the Covid-19 crisis pushing some sessions online — to learn about options to cut emissions.
Their recommendations, including on how to handle the pandemic recovery, aim to help parliament understand which shifts most voters back, and which ideas may need a rethink.
“This report is a striking tribute to the common sense of the British public,” said Tom Burke, chair of independent climate change think-tank E3G.
Panel members said, for instance, that they supported efforts to cut meat and dairy consumption by 20%-40% — but the dietary changes needed to be voluntary and achieved through education and government promotion.
They backed energy-efficiency upgrades for homes and new heating technologies, but asked that each house be retrofitted “in one go” to cut disruption for occupants.
Homeowners, depending on where they live and other factors, should be able to choose among different technologies, from heat pumps ...