The UK is the world leader when it comes to the fight against climate change. They are now planning to pass legally binding legislation that will make them the first G7 economy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. They represent over half of the world’s wealth and have major economic influence.
Legislators will amend the Climate Change Act from 2008 and update it to represent the countries current goals of net zero emissions.
National Support for Net Zero Emissions
The government did not come to this conclusion by itself. This legislation request comes from both the public and various businesses. On May 30th, over 100 companies and investors sent a letter demanding a legacy of clean growth from the Prime Minister.
Previously the UK was committed to an 80% reduction of emissions by 2050, but they have decided to go all of the way. Once this legislation goes into effect, it will become a legally binding commitment from the UK.
What Needs To Be Done
While reaching net zero emissions as a country is achievable, no one said it will be easy. The UK is already on track to reach zero emissions in the energy sector by 2025.
However, much more needs to be done.
It will require drastic action from every sector. One of the big changes will be phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. Of course, with electric vehicles rising in popularity and shrinking in price, it is not a farfetched idea.
Another necessary step will be a 20% reduction in the consumption of beef, lamb and dairy products. Beef and dairy products require large amounts of farm animals, which then require land. Instead of housing these animals, the land can be used for forests.
A Call To Action
While the UK is doing what it can, it is calling out for other countries to follow suit. Climate change is a global problem and it cannot be fixed by one country alone. To truly fix the problem, countries from around the world need to make similar changes.
