Reduce UK carbon emissions by 78 per cent

This Thursday 22nd April, the planet will celebrate Earth Day; an event designed to spread awareness and encourage action on the global climate crisis. With more than 1 billion people in 193 countries taking part in Earth Day activities each year, the event is the largest civic observance in the world

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain would cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 an increased on the original target of 68% and 15 years ahead of schedule in what he hailed as the world’s most ambitious climate change target that would put the country on track to become a net zero produce.

Net zero refers to cutting greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible and balancing any further releases by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

The new timetable, nearly 15 years ahead of the previous target, will require a fundamental restructuring in the way Britain powers its homes, cars and factories, how it feeds its people and what it does to dispose of carbon dioxide.

Meeting the new target will require millions of households to replace their gas boilers with low-carbon heating and much faster introduction of electric cars. Meat consumption will have to fall by up to a third, according to the climate change committee.

Further policies will be revealed if the long-delayed Energy White Paper is published in the coming months.

The prime minister’s 78% target represents the UK’s NDC – its nationally determined contribution towards meeting the Paris Agreement.

NDCs represent the commitments by each country – under the Paris pact – to reduce their own national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The Paris deal, signed in 2016, is aimed at keeping global temperature rise well under 2C, preferably with a maximum rise of 1.5C