UK government to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050

Offshore wind turbines - cheapest source of energy in the UK (Source: The Telegraph)

After a recommendation from the UK’s Committee on Climate Change in May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK government will set a target for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. carbon neutral) by 2050. Mrs May said there was a “moral duty to leave this world in a better condition than what we inherited.”

That means greenhouse gas emissions from homes, transport, farming and industry will have to be eliminated by using renewables or - in the most difficult examples - offset by planting trees or having industries that suck CO₂ out of the atmosphere.

It is important to note that Theresa May has announced that a group of young people will be selected to advise the government on priorities for environmental action. They will start their review in July.

Britain is the first G7 nation to propose this target, it has a population close to 67 million. Other nations (and states) have more ambitious or similar targets. Some of those with plans to be carbon neutral include:
- Norway (population ~5.4 million) by 2030.
- Finland (population ~5.6 million) by 2035.
- Sweden (population ~10 million) by 2045.
- California (population ~40 million) by 2045.
- Scotland (population ~5.3 million) by 2045.
- Denmark (population ~5.8 million) by 2050.
- New Zealand (population ~4.8 million) by 2050.
- Costa Rica (population ~5 million) by 2050.
- South Australia (population ~1.7 million) by 2050.
- The Australian Capital Territory (population now ~452,500) by 2045.

Read more:
- Climate Change: UK government to commit to 2050 target. BBC News, June 12 2019.
- Theresa May’s net-zero emissions target is a lot less impressive than it looks. The Guardian, June 13 2019.
- Net zero emissions by 2050, says UK government - now what? The Conversation, June 12 2019.