Comment on Labour net zero announcement

Commenting on the news that the Labour party is to announce its support for a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, Richard Black, director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said:

“Labour’s announcement is very much in line with the latest science, which shows that carbon emissions need to fall to net zero around mid-century in order to stand a decent chance of meeting the Paris Agreement targets.

“With the Conservative government also committed to net zero and more than 130 MPs signing a cross-party letter calling for a target date before 2050, the backing across Parliament for UK action in line with the science seems as strong as it was a decade ago when it brought the Climate Change Act into existence.

“Moving to a net zero economy presents challenges, but evidence suggests it can be done and will bring social and economic benefits.”

The cross-party letter calling on the Prime Minister to put a net zero for the UK in law was led by Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

Polling undertaken by Opinium for Bright Blue shows that 64% of UK adults agree the UK should aim to cut its carbon emissions to zero in the next few decades.

ECIU briefings on the implications of adopting a net zero emissions target for the UK are available here.