Taking stock of net zero progress

It is helpful sometimes to step back and take stock. This is true for net zero currently. At the point that media coverage of the topic increasingly features the phrase, ‘net stupid zero,’ evidence on the impact of the country’s commitment to reduce its emissions is welcome.

The Climate Change Committee’s annual progress report on emissions, laid before Parliament yesterday, does that. It is, overall, a more positive read than the last couple of reports published under the previous government. The UK can meet its legally binding climate targets – but more action is needed.

Notably, progress to date has been driven by decarbonising energy supply and industry, with progress slower in other sectors. Over 80% of the required emissions savings between now and 2030 need to come from sectors other than energy supply. This includes surface transport, buildings and industry.

These are all points at which net zero will begin to enter people’s daily lives. Outside of communities hosting new infrastructure, decarbonising energy generation is abstract for a lot of people – electricity continues to come out of the plug. This will shift as more people need to replace their cars with electric vehicles or make changes to the way they heat their homes.

We would all do well to consider the lessons from the rollout of renewable energy generation at this point. Sentiment towards renewables remains positive nationally, but these views are lightly held. Our 2024 research on sentiment regarding large-scale solar farms found that nearly 60% of people reported low knowledge about renewable energy.

Our experience is that this low level of knowledge means views on the energy transition are lightly held in practice – and can change when new information is received. This can drive a rapid switch to negativity, particularly if something happens to move an issue up someone’s agenda. Needing to replace your gas boiler will do that as surely as finding out a solar farm is planned near your home.

The Climate Change Committee’s report rightly identifies making energy cheaper as key to winning public support for net zero. But education and engagement about the changes that need to take place in everyone’s daily lives will also be important. That needs to take place before those changes accelerate - or government will risk a more widespread turn against net zero.