Ahead of the UK co-hosting the Climate Ambition Summit on Saturday 12 December, which will coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today (Friday 4 December) announced a new target to reduce the UK’s emissions by at least 68% by 2030, compared to 1990. The announcement commits the UK to cutting emissions at the fastest rate of any major economy so far, and is the first target set by the UK following its departure from the European Union.

Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive at UKGBC:

“We applaud the leadership shown by the UK Government with this announcement, which is rightly ambitious and sets an appropriately high bar for others to follow. It is aligned with the growing number of business commitments and science based targets, which provides a mutually reinforcing confidence that public and private sector are moving in the same direction.

“Businesses in the built environment sector – which is so critical for emissions reductions – must stand ready to deliver solutions at scale that will help the UK meet these targets. But to do so will depend on the same level of ambition being urgently translated into a number of key policy frameworks – such as the upcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy and the Future Homes Standard.”

Today’s announcement follows a call from business groups, including UKGBC, for the Government to set out an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by the end of the year, that is at least in line with the Paris Agreement, the UK’s net zero emissions by 2050 target, and advice from the Climate Change Committee on the UK’s 2030 target.

-ENDS-

A letter signed by UKGBC calling for the Prime Minister to set an ambitious NDC target can be accessed here.

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