The UK Government published an action plan to convert the UK into a permanent low-carbon and sustainable economy. The UK's Low-Carbon Transition Plan - an economy-wide strategy - will help convert the country to low-carbon living, and take advantage of the economic benefits.

The plan, announced by UK Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband, details how the UK will meet its domestic climate targets - set out in law in the Climate Change Act - to cut emissions by at least 34% by 2020 on 1990 levels. A 21% reduction has already been delivered - equivalent to cutting emissions entirely from four cities the size of London.

Transforming Britain into a cleaner, greener and more prosperous place to live is at the heart of our economic plans ensuring the UK is ready to take advantage of the opportunities ahead. The measures we are announcing today mean that by 2020:

• More than 1.2 million people will be in green jobs;
• 7 million homes will have home energy makeovers, and over 1.5 million households will be supported to produce their own clean energy
• 40% of electricity will be from low carbon sources, from renewables, nuclear and clean coal;
• We will be importing half the amount of gas that we otherwise would; and
• The average new car will emit 40% less carbon than now.

UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:

"For the UK, tackling climate change and moving to a sustainable and low-carbon economy makes sense for our country's economy, security and society.

"Our Low-Carbon Transition Plan will help open the doors to new jobs, new industries and new international trading opportunities for the United Kingdom.

"Last week's G8 and Major Economies summit produced real breakthroughs in negotiations when global leaders pledged for the first time to agree to keep a global temperature rise within 2 degrees centigrade. This means from now on, both developed and developing countries will have to demonstrate that their actions and commitments are consistent with this scientific framework. A low-carbon future is now within the reach of every country across the world as we approach the crunch talks in Copenhagen in less than 150 days.

"Developed countries must now show leadership and ambition if they're to be taken seriously by developing countries. It's why I believe every developed country needs a low carbon transition plan. Today we have published ours - showing the UK is willing and ready to play its part in the Copenhagen deal with real policies and real cuts in emissions."

The UK Low-Carbon Industrial Strategy, also published by the Government, presents a series of active government interventions to support industries critical to tackling climate change. It puts workers and businesses in the UK at the forefront of a massive global opportunity.

Also published is the UK's Renewable Energy Strategy which maps out how the UK will deliver its target of getting 15% of all energy (electricity, heat and transport) from renewables by 2020, and Low Carbon Transport: A Greener Future which will set out how to reduce carbon emissions from domestic transport by up to 14% over the next decade.

The UK is the first country in the world to set itself legally binding 'carbon budgets'. Under the Climate Change Act 2008 emissions of greenhouse gases are constrained in each successive five year period. The Transition Plan sets out how we will cut emissions by 34% on 1990 levels by 2020 from the main emitting sectors - power, homes, workplaces, transport and agriculture - on the way to achieving a reduction of at least 80% by 2050.
 
An outline of the areas covered in the new documents can be found below:

The Power Sector
Around 50% of the annual emissions cuts between now and 2020 will be achieved by further greening of the electricity mix. We expect 40% of the electricity we use in 2020 to come from low carbon sources - 30% from renewables, the rest from nuclear (including new build) and clean coal. We need to all-but eliminate carbon from electricity by 2050.

Homes and communities
Around 15% of the annual emissions cuts between now and 2020 will be achieved making our homes more efficient and supporting small scale renewable energy.  There are massive cash savings to be made - in a poorly insulated home, up to £1 out of every £3 spent on heating is being wasted.

Workplaces and jobs
Around 10% of the annual emissions cuts between now and 2020 will be achieved through greater efficiencies in our workplaces. By 2050, our offices, factories, schools and hospitals need to reduce emissions to almost zero. Jobs and business opportunities will be created in new sectors outside the energy sector and help will be needed to support all businesses be more energy efficient.

Transport system
Around 20% of the annual emissions savings needed by 2020 will need to be achieved by cleaning up the way people in the UK travel. By 2050, road and rail transport will be largely decarbonised and aviation and shipping will have seen a significant improvement in efficiency.

Farms and managing land sustainably
Around 5% of the annual emissions cuts between now and 2020 will be achieved by reducing emissions from agriculture, land use and waste. 

Notes for Editors

1.Further details on the low-carbon transition plan and the Government's recent Road to Copenhagen document can be found at: www.Actoncopenhagen.gov.uk 

2.The publication of the Government's low-carbon plan follows Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent proposal to find a way forward for developed and developing countries to agree new mechanisms to pay for tackling climate change. He urged countries to work together on a global figure of around $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries reduce their emissions, tackle deforestation and adapt to the climate change already being experienced.

Source: Department of Energy and Climate Change

Back to newsroom

Back to top