By the end of October, the UK government has to publish a new climate plan. Thanks to the Climate Change Act, this is a legal obligation. And thanks to two High Court rulings, it has to actually work this time.
The goal is to show how we’ll cut emissions by 78% by 2035 (compared to 1990 levels). That’s a big drop, but it’s absolutely doable. The UK has already cut emissions by over 50%, even as the economy has grown by more than 80%.
But getting there requires a plan that’s not just ambitious, but practical and fair. It needs to get specific on how we’ll hit these goals. And this is where the UK’s proposals have got shaky.
The courts and the public are rightly asking for more. The next climate plan has to show, sector by sector, how existing and new policies will get us to the required emissions cuts.
It’s also worth remembering: climate action isn’t just about hitting targets. It’s about building a country that works better for the long term.
Clean energy can lower bills. Better home insulation makes people more comfortable. Electric vehicles reduce air pollution. But to work politically, it has to feel fair. That means protecting low-income households, engaging the public, and not letting all the benefits flow to the top.
So what needs to be in this plan?
I remember the first climate plan coming out in 2011 where there was much focus on energy efficiency, fuel-efficient cars and biofuels. Things have moved on! Our experts have worked with those from other environment groups to work out the priorities for a good plan. Here’s a quick sector-by-sector look at what it should include:
1. Electricity pricing is broken. Fix it.
Electricity is the backbone of decarbonisation. But in the UK, clean electricity is priced like it’s still 2005 – artificially expensive because of how gas sets wholesale prices and how green levies are slapped on bills.
This is fixable. Shift those historic levies to general taxation where it’s paid for more fairly. Take gas power stations out of the market. Make electricity cheaper, and people will adopt heat pumps and EVs without needing to be nagged.
2. Heating: make it not terrible.
Most people hate thinking about their boiler. So if we want them to switch to cleaner heating, the experience needs to be painless.
That means decent installer regulation (no cowboys), smart design of grants (more help for people who need it), and zero-interest loans for upgrades. Also: new homes should be built to high efficiency standards, with solar as standard. This is obvious. Do it.
3. Don’t mess up the electric vehicle rollout.
The government’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate is working. Don’t mess with it.
Instead, focus on the bottlenecks – charging infrastructure, especially for renters and flat-dwellers, and the absurd VAT difference between home and public charging. Also, stop expanding airports. It’s climate malpractice.
4. Nature matters. Fund it like you mean it.
Land use gets overlooked, but it’s critical. Restoring peatlands, reforesting, shifting farm incentives – it’s all essential for reducing emissions and restoring biodiversity. The catch: it’s not free. We’re talking £5.9 billion a year. That’s a lot, but less than what we spend on fossil fuel subsidies.
5. Industry: electrify and support.
UK industry needs a clear path to decarbonisation. That means cheaper power, faster grid connections, and public investment in cleaner tech. The industrial strategy needs to be sharper on the benefits of cleaner manufacturing, and actually link up with climate goals.
6. Money makes the plan real.
Public money matters, but most of the net zero transition will be privately funded. To unlock that, the government needs to publish investment roadmaps, track progress, and mandate credible climate plans from big companies. Markets like clarity.
Bottom line: climate plans only matter if they add up
The UK has world-class targets and world-class rhetoric. What it lacks is plans for delivery. This climate plan is a chance to change that.
Make electricity cheap. Make clean choices easy. Make the benefits widely felt. And don’t pretend this can be done without spending real money.
We already know what needs doing. The real question is whether this government has the will to do it.
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