The British government has announced an ambitious new commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045 — five years ahead of its previously stated target of 2050. The pledge, unveiled by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ms Harriet Collins, at a press briefing on Tuesday, was described by ministers as "the most significant climate policy announcement in a generation."
Under the new framework, the UK will be required to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 78 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2035, and achieve full net zero by 2045. The plan includes a £28 billion investment in clean energy infrastructure over the next decade, with a particular focus on offshore wind, green hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage technology.
The government's own projections estimate that the transition to net zero could create up to 480,000 jobs in clean energy sectors by 2035, primarily in coastal and former industrial communities in the North of England, Scotland, and Wales. However, the same report acknowledges that approximately 75,000 jobs in the fossil fuel industry are at risk of displacement over the same period.
The announcement drew a mixed response. Environmental groups broadly welcomed the target but argued it did not go far enough quickly enough. Dr Priya Sharma, spokesperson for the Climate Action Network UK, said the 2045 target was "a step in the right direction, but the window for meaningful action is narrowing rapidly. We needed 2040, not 2045."
Business leaders expressed concern about the pace and cost of transition. The Federation of Small Businesses warned that smaller companies lacked the capital to upgrade their operations to comply with new green regulations, and called for a dedicated £500 million small business transition fund. A spokesperson said: "For large corporations, this is manageable. For a family-run manufacturing business with 12 employees, the costs could be existential."
The opposition Labour Party argued the announcement was undermined by the government's simultaneous approval of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, calling the policy "fundamentally contradictory." Shadow Energy Secretary Mr James Rao said in the House of Commons: "You cannot credibly commit to net zero while granting new fossil fuel licences. These two positions are irreconcilable."
The UK's new 2045 target would, if achieved, make Britain one of only a handful of developed nations to reach net zero before 2050. Sweden currently holds the world's most ambitious legally binding target, aiming for net zero by 2045. Denmark has set a target of 70 percent emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The government is expected to publish detailed sectoral roadmaps — covering transport, agriculture, housing, and industry — by the end of September this year.
The UK government has a new target to reach net zero by 2045. The plan includes a major in clean energy infrastructure. While environmental groups broadly the decision, some argued the target should have been set earlier. The opposition pointed out that the policy was because the government was also approving new oil and gas licences.