UK halfway to reaching net zero after Covid-19 spurs record emissions cuts

Cecilia Keating
clock • 3 min read

After reducing its emissions by 51 per cent over the last 30 years, the UK has another 30 to make the same reductions again and hit net zero, Carbon Brief reveals

Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK in 2020 fell to half the levels recorded in 1990 in the wake of the pandemic, meaning the nation is technically halfway to meeting its target of reaching net zero emissions...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

'Energising Britain': DESNZ debuts new public participation plan

'Energising Britain': DESNZ debuts new public participation plan

Government publishes new plan to help everyone 'play their part' in the UK's clean energy mission

James Murray
clock 05 December 2025 • 3 min read
UK and Philippines launch new climate transition fund

UK and Philippines launch new climate transition fund

UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions programme debuts new fund and knowledge transfer initiative to support clean tech and offshore wind deployment in the Philippines

James Murray
clock 03 December 2025 • 3 min read
Can the government deliver its promised environmental improvements?

Can the government deliver its promised environmental improvements?

The government's new Environmental Improvement Plan is an impressive document, but big questions remain over whether Number 10 and the Treasury will give Ministers the tools they need to deliver

James Murray
clock 02 December 2025 • 4 min read