At the recent climate summit, the United Kingdom unveiled ambitious new climate targets for 2035, positioning itself as a leader in global climate action. The country has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035, relative to 1990 levels, a goal that aligns with the recommendations of the UK’s Climate Change Committee and independent scientific advisors.
This commitment is part of the UK’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which requires countries to update their climate action plans every five years with increasing ambition. The UK’s target is a significant escalation from its previous goal of a 68% reduction by 2030 and is designed to help achieve the global objective of limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C.
Stientje van Veldhoven, Vice President and Regional Director for Europe at the World Resources Institute, praised the UK’s plans as “a shining example of climate leadership.” She expressed hope that this ambitious target would inspire other G20 countries to follow suit. Van Veldhoven emphasized that achieving this goal would require the UK to strengthen its policies and ramp up green investments.
The UK’s announcement comes as countries are required to submit their new climate ambitions by February 2025. While Brazil, the host of the next climate summit, and the United Arab Emirates have also set new targets for 2035, there has been criticism regarding the adequacy of these commitments. The European Union, however, is likely to miss this global deadline due to the ongoing transitional phase following the European Parliament elections this summer.
Despite its current ambitions, the UK’s climate approach has faced legal challenges in the past. Climate action groups have successfully argued in court that the government’s previous plans did not adequately address greenhouse gas emissions, leading to the development of new, more stringent policies. The current target is part of the UK’s broader strategy to restore its global climate leadership, which includes significant investments in clean energy, the scrapping of bans on onshore wind, and the launch of initiatives like Great British Energy to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted several key actions taken by his government since its election in July 2024, including ending coal-fired power generation, launching carbon capture and storage projects, and investing in low-carbon hydrogen. These measures are aimed at making Britain a “clean energy superpower,” delivering energy security, and restoring the UK’s global climate reputation.
The UK’s commitment to reducing emissions is also linked to its economic and energy security goals. The government has announced significant investments in home-grown British energy, including renewables, carbon capture and storage, nuclear, and hydrogen. This approach is expected to attract further investment, create jobs in low-carbon technologies, and reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, which has been a major factor in recent cost of living crises.
The UK’s new climate target sets a high standard for global climate action, emphasizing the need for bold, sector-specific goals and increased green investments to achieve its ambitious emissions reduction targets. As the UK moves forward with its climate commitments, it is urging other countries to follow suit and submit their own ambitious NDCs to address the urgent need for global climate action.
