Ed Miliband has confirmed the UK's legal target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 87% by 2040, as part of the country's seventh carbon budget. The target aligns with advice from the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), which has indicated that households may need to adopt heat pumps, switch to electric cars, and reduce meat and dairy consumption to meet the goal.
Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, said the shift to clean homegrown power would protect family and business finances from fossil fuel shocks. He criticised those who ignore climate breakdown, stating the government is committed to protecting the country for future generations.
The CCC estimates that families could save hundreds of pounds annually by mid-century through energy efficiency and lower running costs. The government's Warm Homes Plan includes £15 billion of public investment to upgrade up to 5 million homes, with grants of up to £7,500 for heat pumps and tax relief on solar panels.
Electric vehicles are also central to the plan, with a ban on new petrol and diesel car sales from 2030 and hybrids from 2035. Grants of up to £3,750 are available for certain EV models, which can save drivers up to £1,400 annually in running costs.
The carbon budget comes amid global energy price volatility, partly due to the US-Iran conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero argues that investing in domestic renewables will insulate the UK from such fossil fuel price shocks, which have caused half of the UK's recessions since 1970.
