{"id":69103,"date":"2026-06-24T01:03:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T01:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/69103\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T01:03:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T01:03:10","slug":"ccc-faster-electrification-of-uk-will-put-money-back-into-peoples-pockets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/69103\/","title":{"rendered":"CCC: Faster electrification of UK will \u2018put money back into people\u2019s pockets\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Faster electrification is the best way to secure lower energy bills and stronger energy security, according to the Climate Change Committee<\/a> (CCC).<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s official climate advisers have stressed the importance of electrification, noting that electric cars and heat pumps can \u201cput money back into people\u2019s pockets\u201d.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the UK\u2019s net-zero targets face \u201csignificant risks\u201d unless there is faster progress in electrifying cars, heating and industry, according to the CCC\u2019s latest progress report<\/a><\/p>\n

The report notes that the government has closed some of the gaps to its upcoming targets and introduced more \u201ccredible\u201d plans.<\/p>\n

However, challenges remain in the UK\u2019s climate strategy, including accelerating the expansion of heat pumps, cutting emissions from farms and supplying planes with \u201csustainable\u201d fuels.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC notes that 17% of the emissions cuts required to achieve the UK\u2019s 2030 Paris Agreement<\/a> climate target are currently not addressed by any government plans<\/a> at all.<\/p>\n

Amid political<\/a> and industry<\/a> pressure, the committee also says the government should \u201cstand firm\u201d on its climate goals, including its strategy<\/a> for encouraging electric-vehicle (EV) sales.<\/p>\n

Carbon Brief has covered the CCC\u2019s annual progress reports in 2025<\/a>, 2024<\/a>, 2023<\/a>, 2022<\/a>, 2021<\/a> and 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Overall progress<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s progress report is the third since Labour swept to power in 2024.<\/p>\n

It arrives amid a \u201cred extreme heat warning<\/a>\u201d, on the day that parliament will vote on the seventh \u201ccarbon budget\u201d<\/a>, a legally binding limit<\/a> on UK emissions in 2040.<\/p>\n

The report comes at a febrile moment in UK politics, with prime minister Keir Starmer having just resigned<\/a> and with newly re-elected MP Andy Burnham widely tipped to take his place.<\/p>\n

The opposition Conservatives and Reform are lobbying<\/a> to scrap UK climate goals \u2013\u00a0and senior Labour figures want to row back on EVs<\/a> and North Sea oil and gas drilling<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Against that backdrop, the CCC insists that it is the UK\u2019s reliance<\/a> on fossil fuels\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and the second<\/a> fossil-fuel<\/a> price shock<\/a> in four years\u00a0\u2013 that has caused<\/a> a \u201ccost of living crisis\u201d.<\/p>\n

Speaking to journalists ahead of the launch, CCC chair Nigel Topping<\/a> warned against any moves to weaken UK climate policies. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cU-turns are really damaging to inward investment confidence\u2026[We should] hold the course and focus on electrification\u2026which will unlock very significant savings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whereas the CCC said last year it had become \u201cmore optimistic<\/a>\u201d that UK climate goals could be met under the new government, its latest progress report strikes a more cautious tone.<\/p>\n

It says that the UK\u2019s emissions fell by 1.8%<\/a> in 2025 and that there has been \u201csome positive progress\u201d in terms of delivery over the past year, but that this has been \u201ctoo slow\u201d.<\/p>\n

There was actually an increase in emissions from transport and electricity supplies in 2025, as shown below, despite the expansion of clean power and EVs.<\/p>\n

\"ChartUK greenhouse gas emissions by sector, million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Source: CCC 2026 progress report.<\/p>\n

The UK\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions are now roughly 50% below 1990 levels, the CCC notes, with the lion\u2019s share of this having come from cleaning up<\/a> the power sector.<\/p>\n

In contrast, there has been far less progress in transport, which is\u00a0now the UK\u2019s largest emitter, as well as in buildings, the second largest.<\/p>\n

The CCC stresses that future emissions cuts will need to come from using clean power to decarbonise other sectors\u00a0\u2013 particularly buildings, transport and industry.<\/p>\n

It puts a major emphasis on the need to electrify these sectors by more rapidly rolling out EVs, heat pumps and electric heating for industrial sites.<\/p>\n

The CCC adds that government plans<\/a> for meeting future targets, published last year, leave a \u201csignificant gap\u201d to the UK\u2019s international climate pledge for 2030. (See: Policy gaps<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

The electrification \u2018prize\u2019<\/p>\n

The most striking aspect of this year\u2019s report is the way it centres on electrification, which the CCC says has been given \u201cinsufficient focus\u201d to date.<\/p>\n

Electrification has shot up the agenda in recent months, with the COP31 presidency calling<\/a> for countries to back a global goal for 35% of \u201cfinal<\/a>\u201d energy to come from electricity by 2035.<\/p>\n

The text of the CCC\u2019s latest report uses the word \u201celectrification\u201d far more often than previous editions, as shown in the figure below.<\/p>\n

\"ChartNumber of times the word \u201celectrification\u201d appears in successive CCC progress reports, average per 10 pages. Source: Carbon Brief analysis of CCC reports.<\/p>\n

Early last year, in advice on the seventh carbon budget, the committee singled out<\/a> electrification as key to cutting UK emissions. It said electrification had won out over alternative options, thanks to rapid cost reductions for technologies such as EVs.<\/p>\n

Now, the CCC says that electrification is also the best way to secure lower energy bills, stronger energy security and a host of other benefits.<\/p>\n

Topping said these benefits include \u201cputting money back into people\u2019s pockets\u201d, but also cleaner air, stronger energy security and protection from fossil-fuel shocks:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe prize is really significant here. By 2030 alone, the UK could save up to 80m barrels of oil and 1.5bn therms of gas each year. That would cost almost \u00a38bn at current oil and gas prices.\u201d<\/p>\n

The emphasis on the topic is also clear in the CCC press release for its report, which is titled: \u201cFaster electrification would cut UK household bills, say climate advisers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report fleshes this out in a dedicated chapter that explores the financial benefits of electrifying household energy use, including heat and transport.<\/p>\n

Topping said that the \u201chome of the future\u201d will be equipped with an EV, a flexible \u201ctime-of-use tariff<\/a>\u201d for its electricity supplies and a heat pump for keeping warm.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the report shows that even today, this type of household would cut its annual energy bills by around \u00a31,200, relative to using a petrol car and a gas boiler.<\/p>\n

Crucially, this saving, shown in the figure below, includes the high upfront costs of installing an electric heat pump and solar panels. The analysis shows that electrified homes have far lower annual running costs, which easily outweigh this initial outlay.<\/p>\n

(Due to \u201cmodelling limitations\u201d, the CCC analysis does not consider home batteries, which can help unlock even larger<\/a> savings.)<\/p>\n

\"ChartHousehold energy costs for heat, power and transport, \u00a3 per year. The upfront costs of purchasing cars, heating systems, chargers and solar panels are annualised. Source: CCC progress report 2026.<\/p>\n

The CCC says that while not everyone is currently in a position to enjoy the financial benefits of electrification, its analysis points to savings both before and after the Iran crisis, as well as for high- and low-income households, with the latter eligible for grants to cover upfront costs.<\/p>\n

Even more homes would be able to unlock these benefits if the government acts to resolve barriers, such as high public charging costs, says the CCC.<\/p>\n

However, the report says that the government\u2019s current plan to electrify the economy \u201clacks ambition\u201d and that there are \u201cworrying signs\u201d in some areas, such as heat pumps and electric vans. (See: Road transport<\/a> and Buildings<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Ultimately, says the CCC, the best way to encourage faster and wider electrification is to make electricity cheaper. This has been its top recommendation for several years.<\/p>\n

Policy gaps <\/p>\n

Since the last CCC progress report, the government has published<\/a> a new \u201ccarbon budget and growth delivery plan<\/a>\u201d (CBGD), explaining how it will cut emissions in the 2030s.<\/p>\n

The CBGD \u201cprojects slower emissions reductions for surface transport and buildings compared to the previous government\u2019s plan\u201d, according to the CCC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This reflects both the slow rollout<\/a> of some technologies \u2013 such as heat pumps<\/a> \u2013 and \u201careas of reduced policy ambition\u201d, including less support<\/a> for low-income homes to install insulation.<\/p>\n

The CCC says that without \u201csufficient progress on electrification\u201d this year, the UK\u2019s 2030 emissions target \u201cmay become out of reach\u201d and future goals would face \u201csignificant risks\u201d.<\/p>\n

The chart below demonstrates the CCC\u2019s view that the UK is \u201cwell on track\u201d to meet its fourth carbon budget<\/a>, between 2023 and 2027, and that there are \u201ccredible policies in place\u201d to meet the fifth carbon budget<\/a> out to 2032.<\/p>\n

However, it also shows the \u201csignificant gap\u201d that the CCC says still exists between projected emissions cuts (blue lines) and the UK\u2019s international climate target for 2030, its nationally determined contribution<\/a> (NDC) to the Paris Agreement (black circle).<\/p>\n

(This is particularly notable as the NDC was the first official UK climate goal that was aligned with its 2050 net-zero target. The fourth and fifth carbon budgets were set before the net-zero goal and therefore need to be overachieved.)<\/p>\n

Plans that are \u201ccredible\u201d or only come with \u201csome risks\u201d are on track to cut emissions to 356m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) by 2030. This is 11MtCO2e lower than last year, but still a shortfall of 64MtCO2e.<\/p>\n

\"UKUK greenhouse gas emissions, including international aviation and shipping (IAS), MtCO2e. Lines show historical emissions (black) and the UK\u2019s \u201ccarbon budget indicative pathway\u201d from the CBGD (red). Projected emissions are shown under what the CCC defines as \u201ccredible\u201d policies (dark blue); credible policies, plus those with \u201csome risk\u201d (light blue); and policies that are credible, have some risk or \u201csignificant risk\u201d (purple). The dotted black line indicates the trajectory for emissions before any net-zero policies were implemented. The dotted red line indicated an example trajectory to reach the target of net-zero emissions by 2050. Legislated carbon budget levels are shown as grey steps, including the suggested level of the seventh budget for 2038-42. The first five budgets did not include IAS, but \u201cheadroom\u201d was left to allow for these emissions (darker grey wedges). Source: CCC 2026 progress report.<\/p>\n

Overall, the CCC says there are \u201ccredible\u201d plans in place for 44% of emissions reductions by 2030, including those linked to renewable energy, EV sales growth and electrification<\/a> of steel production at Port Talbot in Wales. Another 15% of reductions come with \u201csome risks\u201d.<\/p>\n

The report concludes that there are \u201csignificant risks\u201d attached to 19% of emissions cuts, including the expansion of heat pumps, future \u201csustainable aviation fuel<\/a>\u201d (SAF) supply and agricultural policies.<\/p>\n

There are also 4% of required emissions cuts for which the UK has \u201cinsufficient plans\u201d, including much of the electrification of the UK\u2019s heavy industry.<\/p>\n

The chart below shows how this assessment compares to previous CCC analysis<\/a> of government plans, with the share of \u201ccredible\u201d government plans increasing.<\/p>\n

(As the latest report is based on the new CBGD rather than the previous 2023 plan, the assessments have different levels of baseline emissions and are not directly comparable. However, this chart shows the rough direction of travel.)<\/p>\n

\"ChartShare of emissions cuts needed to hit the UK\u2019s 2030 climate goal that are rated by successive CCC reports as being backed by \u201ccredible\u201d policies, or that face \u201csome\u201d or \u201csignificant\u201d risks to delivery, or where there are \u201cinsufficient plans\u201d, %. The chart also shows the share of emission cuts required that are \u201cnot covered\u201d by the government plans. Source: Carbon Brief analysis of CCC reports.<\/p>\n

As the chart shows, a substantial chunk of the required emissions cuts need to meet the 2030 pledge \u2013 17% of the total \u2013 are not covered by the CBGD.<\/p>\n

This reflects the fact that the new plan simply does not achieve<\/a> the 2030 target, according to the CCC, despite the government\u2019s stated commitment to its NDC goal.<\/p>\n

(The government\u2019s plan had also acknowledged<\/a> that it fell short of meeting the 2030 NDC.)<\/p>\n

The CCC emphasises that \u201cthe government will need to bring forward additional policies and plans to make up this gap\u201d.<\/p>\n

The new report suggests several areas \u2013 including faster EV growth, more heat-pump installations and more ambitious recycling rates \u2013 that would close 17MtCO2e of the 26MtCO2e gap to the 2030 goal.<\/p>\n

Unlike the 2030 NDC, the government\u2019s plan does achieve the sixth carbon budget<\/a>, between 2033 and 2037. However, the committee says \u201cthis is largely achieved through additional measures where we have assessed there to be significant risks or insufficient plans\u201d.<\/p>\n

Only around three-fifths of the required emissions cuts for the sixth carbon budget are covered by \u201ccredible\u201d plans or plans with \u201csome risks\u201d.<\/p>\n

According to the CCC, the government is relying on a rapid scale-up of engineered removals beyond 2030, but has provided little detail about how it will achieve this. (See: Other sectors<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis approach carries substantial risks,\u201d according to the committee.<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Road transport<\/p>\n

Road transport remains the UK\u2019s highest emitting sector and its emissions increased by nearly 3% last year, according to provisional data in the CCC report.<\/p>\n

Electric-car sales have continued increasing, reaching nearly a quarter of new sales last year. The number of electric cars on the road surpassed<\/a> 2m in May 2025.<\/p>\n

However, the emissions benefit of this rollout of electric vehicles (EVs) \u201cis likely to have been offset by other factors\u201d, such as driving rates returning nearly to pre-Covid levels, according to the CCC.<\/p>\n

The report notes that EV costs \u201ccontinue to fall\u201d and have met price parity in some parts of the market, with grants providing an extra boost to sales.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The committee\u2019s pathway to net-zero assumes faster emissions cuts from road transport than the government\u2019s pathway. This is largely because it assumes an imminent \u201ctipping point<\/a>\u201d will be reached, when EVs reach upfront price parity with petrol cars.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the report says that sales will still \u201cneed to accelerate fast\u201d over the next few years and that this will require consistent government support.<\/p>\n

The CCC stresses the \u201ckey role\u201d of the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate<\/a>, which requires manufacturers to sell a rising share<\/a> of EVs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There have been reports<\/a> that the government is planning a \u201cU-turn<\/a>\u201d after a review of the ZEV mandate. The CCC says it is \u201cessential\u201d that the review \u201cdoes not lead to further concessions\u201d:<\/p>\n

\u201cDoing so would severely undermine prospects of achieving the UK\u2019s 2030 NDC, exacerbate the UK\u2019s dependence on imported oil, and leave more households paying the higher costs of petrol or diesel cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

As well as \u201cstand[ing] firm\u201d on the ZEV mandate, the committee says it is important that the government \u201cremove[s] barriers to EV adoption\u201d.<\/p>\n

One key policy highlighted by the report is increased access to cheap EV charging, so the one-third of UK homes without off-street parking access can \u201cbenefit from lower running costs\u201d.<\/p>\n

(CCC analysis suggests that while the average home would save at least \u00a3660 a year by switching from a petrol car to an EV, their running costs could actually increase if they have to rely on public charging infrastructure.)<\/p>\n

The report also stresses the use of EV \u201ctime-of-use tariffs<\/a>\u201d, which it says can help people save even more money. It notes that \u201cmeasures to support consumer awareness\u201d of this \u201ccould drive further uptake\u201d.<\/p>\n

Also, with a new 3p per mile EV tax<\/a> due to start from April 2028, the committee says it is \u201cessential that this new tax is implemented in a straightforward manner\u201d to minimise the \u201chassle factor\u201d that could disrupt the EV transition.<\/p>\n

While electric-car sales have so far remained slightly ahead of the level needed to hit the ZEV mandate, the CCC notes that both electric van sales and prices are \u201csignificantly off track\u201d. Unlike cars, electric vans still cost considerably more than their combustion-engine equivalents.<\/p>\n

The committee says government support, including improved access to fast charging and \u201cregulatory reforms\u201d, is also \u201ckey\u201d. As an example of the latter, it notes that certain licensing and testing requirements are based on vehicle weight, which puts heavier battery-powered vehicles at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n

Finally, the CCC criticises recent policy decisions<\/a> that incentivise sales of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) \u201cbased on emissions factors which underestimate real-world emissions\u201d. It notes:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cProviding incentives for emissions savings that PHEVs do not deliver distorts the market and risks eating into the demand for EVs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Buildings<\/p>\n

The CCC says that the rate of growth in heat-pump installations in homes slowed last year, rising just 7%, compared to the 56%<\/a> jump seen in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Around 52,000 heat pumps were installed in 2025, according to the report. Of these, 31,200 were installed with the support of grants from the \u201cboiler upgrade scheme<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

This was not enough to meaningfully reduce emissions, says the CCC, only delivering around 0.1MtCO2e of extra savings in 2025.<\/p>\n

(To eliminate emissions from homes by 2050, heat pump installations in existing homes need to reach 1.4m per year by 2035, according to the CCC.)<\/p>\n

Overall, emissions from the buildings sector fell by 1.2MtCO2e in 2025, amounting to a reduction of 1.3% for non-residential and 1.6% for residential buildings compared to 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This was despite the winter months being colder in 2025 than the previous year, generally meaning greater heating demand. This suggests factors other than weather are driving the reduction, it says, such as higher energy prices leading to lower heating use.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC notes that while emissions did drop, this \u201cdoes not indicate progress on decarbonising home heating\u201d. It adds:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout further actions to decarbonise buildings, it is likely that emissions will rebound if energy prices fall or weather conditions revert to average.\u201d<\/p>\n

The slowdown in the rate of heat pump installations was largely due to the closure of the ECO scheme<\/a>, which delivered around one-third of heat pump installations in existing homes over the last three years.<\/p>\n

In terms of government policy, the CCC notes that there has been some \u201cpositive progress\u201d for buildings, due to the new \u201cwarm homes plan<\/a>\u201d and the \u201cfuture homes standard<\/a>\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The former provides support to help people install electric heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and insulation. In total, 5m homes are expected to benefit from \u00a315bn of grants and loans earmarked by the government for these upgrades by 2030.<\/p>\n

While installation rates in the UK in 2025 were significantly below this level, the CCC report says that growth rates in other European markets<\/a> \u2013 and indeed, in the UK between 2023<\/a> and 2024<\/a> \u2013 suggest that higher rates could be achievable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC notes that while there is \u00a31bn a year earmarked for supporting upgrades of low-income households under the warm homes plan, this is still a \u201csignificant decrease in investment\u201d from that provided by ECO.<\/p>\n

The future homes standard, meanwhile, is an update to existing regulations in England. From March 2028, new-build homes in England will be required to have on-site renewable energy generation and a low-carbon heating system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From then on, newly built homes will produce 75%<\/a> less greenhouse gas emissions than under previous regulations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC report notes that the installation of heat pumps in new homes, specifically, is currently on track to achieve targets, with 25% of new homes built with a heat pump in 2025. However, it says retrofit installations of existing homes are significantly below where they need to be and \u201curgently need to accelerate\u201d.<\/p>\n

The CCC notes that while there has been some progress<\/a> in removing policy costs from household electricity bills, the ratio of electricity to gas prices remains a major barrier to heat pump take-up. (See: The electrification \u2018prize\u2019.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

It also notes that there has been no action to address this barrier for non-residential buildings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fewer than 2% of homes have a heat pump in the UK, it says, placing the nation among the lowest rates of installation in Europe, as seen in the chart below.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"ChartHeat pump market share vs electricity-to-gas price ratio in Europe in 2024. Credit: CCC. <\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Industry<\/p>\n

Industry accounted for the largest share of emissions reduction in the UK in 2025, according to the CCC, with a 5.4MtCO2e (12%) drop from 2024.<\/p>\n

As such, sectoral emissions for industry are now 56% lower than they were in 2008.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This was largely due to the closure<\/a> of blast furnaces at the Port Talbot steelworks towards the end of 2024, ahead of reopening<\/a> with new electric arc furnaces<\/a>. Emissions from iron and steel production therefore fell by 3.2MtCO2e year-on-year in 2025, according to the CCC report.<\/p>\n

The rest of the reduction was due to a fall in the output of energy-intensive, which the CCC says is in line with the longer-term trend in UK manufacturing seen since the 1990s.<\/p>\n

However, the CCC notes that while some specific progress has been made to decarbonise industry, barriers to further progress remain.<\/p>\n

It urges the government to set a clear plan for how electrification can become the economically rational choice for a wide range of industries.<\/p>\n

As for buildings, the CCC points to the high electricity prices, relative to gas, as a major barrier to the decarbonisation of UK industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has taken some \u201cpositive steps\u201d, according to the report. This includes the government allocating \u00a39.4bn<\/a> of funding to support its development.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There has also been a final investment decision for the first CO2 storage facility at a UK manufacturing site and the construction of transport and storage infrastructure for the nation\u2019s first CCS industrial \u201cclusters<\/a>\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Fossil fuels\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC\u2019s report states that \u201cmany countries are responding<\/a>\u201d to the current global energy crisis triggered by the Iran war<\/a> by \u201crapidly reducing dependency on fossil fuels\u201d.<\/p>\n

It continues that emissions from the UK\u2019s fossil-fuel supply sector fell by 1.5MtCO2e in 2025, in line with the \u201csignificant historical decline seen over the last three decades\u201d.<\/p>\n

Emissions in the sector are now 45% lower than 2008 levels, it adds.<\/p>\n

Key drivers of emissions decline from 2024-5 were a fall in emissions from oil refining of 0.9MtCO2e, mostly due to the closure of Grangemouth<\/a> and Prax Lindsey<\/a> refineries in 2025, according to the CCC.<\/p>\n

\"AerialAerial view of industrial complex with towering chimneys and storage tanks under a hazy sky, Grangemouth, Scotland, United Kingdom. Credit: Andy Smith \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Declines in production emissions associated with oil and gas were due to the closure of North Sea fields \u201cas they reach the end of life\u201d, says the report.<\/p>\n

It adds that this is a \u201ccontinuation\u201d in a longer-term trend. Production emissions from oil and gas have fallen by 58% since 2008 and by 75% since their peak in 2000. The CCC continues:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decline in oil and gas production is expected to continue as oil and gas reserves in the mature North Sea basin are increasingly depleted \u2013 the NSTA [North Sea Transition Authority<\/a>] projects a further decline in combined oil and gas production of 93% by 2050.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report does not directly address the Labour government\u2019s policies on oil and gas production in the North Sea.<\/p>\n

Labour has ruled out<\/a> new oil and gas licences \u2013 a manifesto commitment that has been subject to intense lobbying<\/a> from the oil and gas industry and right-wing media. (See Carbon Brief<\/a>\u2019s factcheck on nine false or misleading myths about the North Sea.)<\/p>\n

However, the government has indicated it might approve new projects that already have a licence<\/a>, if they can pass an environmental impact assessment<\/a> that will consider the emissions from burning the oil and gas produced.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a briefing for journalists, CCC chair Nigel Topping<\/a> noted that oil and gas production is projected to continue to plummet in the coming decades, regardless of whether the government issues new drilling licences, adding:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe real road to energy security is not through some marginal drilling decisions, but through electrifying the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Electricity<\/p>\n

Emissions from electricity supply rose in 2025, following a 5% increase in unabated gas generation year-on-year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the CCC, this offset the reduction in emissions from coal, with the closure<\/a> of the UK\u2019s last coal-fired power plant in 2024.<\/p>\n

This is in line with Carbon Brief\u2019s analysis<\/a> from January, which similarly found that there was a small increase in emissions per unit of generation in 2025.<\/p>\n

This bucks the trend seen in the UK since 2008, over which period emissions from electricity supply have fallen by 82%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC says the rise in gas generation was likely due to a combination of factors, including a 12% drop in nuclear generation, an 11% decrease in net imports, underutilisation of wind capacity due to grid constraints and lower-than-average wind capacity additions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last year, offshore wind capacity increased by 0.7 gigawatts (GW), bringing the UK\u2019s total to 16.6GW, according to the CCC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is expected to more than double to around 37GW by 2032, once the existing pipeline of new projects is built \u2013 including those that secured subsidies in the most recent auction for \u201ccontracts for difference<\/a>\u201d (CfDs).<\/p>\n

The CCC notes, however, that further additions will be needed to reach the government\u2019s \u201cstretching goals<\/a>\u201d for offshore wind.\u00a0<\/p>\n

An additional 0.3GW of onshore wind capacity was added in 2025, bringing the national total to 16.4GW. It says between 2.1GW and 2.5GW will need to be added annually up to the end of the decade to meet government targets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The UK installed more solar capacity in 2025 than in any year since 2015, adding 2.8GW to bring the national total capacity to 21.7GW.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To reach government targets<\/a>, the CCC says installation of solar power still needs to increase, with around another 5GW required by the end of this decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC highlights that faster progress is needed on expanding and modernising electricity networks, as well as deploying storage.<\/p>\n

For example, in 2025, some 9.4 terawatt hours (TWh) of wind generation was \u201ccurtailed\u201d \u2013 when windfarms are paid to turn off \u2013 up 77% on 2024.<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Agriculture and land<\/p>\n

The CCC\u2019s report says \u201cemissions in agriculture and land use have not fallen significantly in recent years\u201d and that progress addressing this has been \u201ctoo slow\u201d.<\/p>\n

Cattle and sheep numbers fell by 1% and 2% respectively in 2025, continuing a longer-term trend, with livestock numbers at their lowest since 1990, says the report.<\/p>\n

This has led to a reduction in methane emissions from 2022-24, but this was offset by an increase in CO2 emissions in these sectors. It continues:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was in part driven by a smaller forestry sink due to an ageing woodland profile and removal of trees for habitat restoration priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report adds that household beef and lamb purchases fell by 5% in the last year and have dropped by 9% since 2021, likely \u201cdriven by high beef and lamb prices and cost-of-living pressures\u201d.<\/p>\n

It continues that one area of \u201cpositive progress\u201d is an increase in peatland restoration rates.<\/p>\n

Some 21,400 hectares of peatlands were restored in 2025 \u2013 a 26% increase on the previous year and around three times the level in 2020, according to the CCC.<\/p>\n

It adds that there is grant funding in place for peatland restoration across the country \u201cuntil at least 2027\u201d.<\/p>\n

Tree-planting has seen \u201cmore mixed\u201d progress, says the report. Planting rates fell<\/a> by 25% from 2024-5, following a large boost to forest creation the year before.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The reduction was \u201cdriven by funding cuts in Scotland, which continues to lead in the establishment of new woodlands for the UK, planting more than half of the total in 2024-25\u201d, says the report.<\/p>\n

It adds that planting rates increased in England and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is expected to launch a woodland creation strategy this year.<\/p>\n

Despite this mixed progress, the chart below shows how the UK government is \u201con track\u201d on most key agriculture and land use indicators, when compared to the CCC\u2019s central pathway to net-zero and the government\u2019s own ambitions.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe UK government is \u201con track\u201d on most key agriculture and land use indicators when compared to the CCC\u2019s central pathway to net-zero and the government\u2019s own ambitions. Credit: CCC (2026)<\/p>\n

The report says that another area of \u201cpositive progress\u201d is the publishing of England\u2019s long-awaited land-use framework<\/a> in March of this year.<\/p>\n

The framework used \u201chigh-resolution modelling\u201d and found that there is enough land in England to meet climate and nature goals, while also producing more food and building new homes.<\/p>\n

To increase progress, the report says that the government should \u201cput policies and incentives in place to ramp up tree-planting and peatland restoration\u201d.<\/p>\n

One key upcoming policy development will be the \u201c25-year farming roadmap\u201d, the government\u2019s long-term direction for farming in England. This is due to be published later this year, according to the CCC.<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Aviation and shipping<\/p>\n

Emissions from flights fell by 0.5% in 2025, despite a 3% increase in overall distance flown by UK passengers.<\/p>\n

The CCC says this is likely due to fuel-efficiency improvements within the nation\u2019s aircraft fleet and \u201ca small contribution\u201d from the use of \u201csustainable aviation fuel<\/a>\u201d (SAF).<\/p>\n

The report concludes that fuel-efficiency improvements are \u201calmost on track\u201d compared to the CCC\u2019s net-zero pathway. The share of jet fuel provided by SAF reached 2.5% in 2025, which is above the level set by the government\u2019s SAF mandate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While people flew more last year, the overall distance travelled via planes is still below the projected levels in the CCC\u2019s pathway for 2025.<\/p>\n

The committee says emissions growth from aviation has \u201cslowed down\u201d, but notes that \u201cit is too early to say whether aviation emissions will grow, plateau or decrease in the future\u201d.<\/p>\n

Overall, the CCC says there has been \u201cmixed progress\u201d in the aviation sector. This year\u2019s SAF Act<\/a> included a mechanism designed to drive domestic production of SAFs, but the report stresses that \u201csignificant challenges<\/a> remain around scaling up supply\u201d.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, for the first time, the government plans to use international carbon credits under CORSIA<\/a> \u2013 the UN\u2019s aviation emissions scheme \u2013 to deliver its sixth carbon budget. According to the CCC:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis introduces significant risk, including uncertainty over the availability and quality of high-integrity credits.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for shipping, the CCC says this has seen \u201climited progress\u201d. It welcomes the inclusion of domestic shipping in the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS)<\/a> as \u201can important step\u201d, but points out that this is only a small fraction of the sector.<\/p>\n

Most emissions come from international shipping. The committee says delays to the International Maritime Organization\u2019s<\/a> (IMO) net-zero framework \u2013 following opposition<\/a> from the US and big fossil-fuel producers \u2013 has \u201csignificantly increased\u201d the risk of hitting emissions targets for this sector.<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n

Other sectors<\/p>\n

The CCC report highlights \u201csignificant risks\u201d with the use of engineered removals in the coming years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s plan for achieving emissions targets over 2033-37 relies on a \u201crapid ramp-up\u201d of technologies<\/a> that suck CO2 out of the atmosphere, the report says, but there is still a lack of detail on how this will be achieved.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During this period, the amount of CO2 removed through these technologies is expected to reach an average of 17.4MtCO2e per year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the CCC says that 94% of removals planned for 2033-37 have \u201csignificant risks or insufficient plans\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There is greater confidence in achieving planned removals over 2028-32, the report says, but this is due to scaled-back plans and policy progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CCC says it is \u201cessential\u201d for the government to develop a strategy for delivering and monitoring engineered removals, along with \u201csufficient contingency plans\u2026for any shortfall\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The report also looks at emissions from waste, which are expected to reduce by an average of 1.1MtCO2e per year between 2024 and 2037.<\/p>\n

The CCC has greater confidence in the government\u2019s ability to meet waste goals compared to last year\u2019s assessment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the report notes that there has been \u201clittle improvement\u201d in recycling rates in UK homes. It says that further policies will be needed to meet plans to reduce waste, boost recycling and prevent waste going to landfill.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking at hydrogen<\/a>, the CCC says there has been \u201cgood progress\u201d in developing low-carbon hydrogen, but risks remain due to tight timelines and delays in funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The report mentions missed or upcoming deadlines to award contracts for some hydrogen projects<\/a> and to update the UK hydrogen strategy<\/a>. It notes that progress on hydrogen \u201cmust continue on the ground\u201d in the meantime.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Faster electrification is the best way to secure lower energy bills and stronger energy security, according to the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":69104,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[31999,32000,3547,8394,396,672,5,13391,6],"class_list":["post-69103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uk","tag-ccc","tag-climate-change-committee","tag-electrification","tag-energy-transition","tag-net-zero","tag-renewable-energy","tag-uk","tag-uk-policy","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116802394996289999","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69103\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}