The U.K. also introduced aims for the end of the sale of new fully petrol and diesel cars by 2030<\/a>, the subsidy of electric heat pumps<\/a> to replace gas boilers, and investment in technology to capture and store CO2<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The U.K. has significantly increased its renewable energy capacity in recent years, driven by its strong climate policy. Renewable energy sources generated 51 percent <\/a>of the U.K.\u2019s electricity in 2024, with wind energy contributing 30 percent<\/a>. The U.K. has cut its greenhouse gas emissions significantly in recent years, which were roughly 54 percent lower in 2024 than in 1990.<\/p>\n The U.K. became the first G7 country to phase out coal power<\/a>, in 2024, with the closure of the last coal-fired power station. While significant progress has been made, in June 2025, the government\u2019s independent adviser, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), warned that further action was needed<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite having established clear national policies to achieve net-zero aims and significantly increase the U.K.\u2019s renewable energy capacity in recent years, there has been a lack of political consensus over net-zero policies in recent months, with opponents suggesting that the planned shift is too complex and expensive. Some politicians have accused the government of putting environmental targets above economic goals.<\/p>\n Both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties remain committed to the mid-century net-zero goal and agree that the U.K. should take a lead in the global fight against climate change, arguing that reducing the country\u2019s reliance on fossil fuels will support economic goals due to the volatile price of these fuels and geopolitical instability.<\/p>\n However, the Conservatives and Reform U.K. want to scrap the country\u2019s net-zero target, suggesting that the existing strategy to achieve this goal is too expensive and difficult to achieve. They also argue that the UU.K.’sefforts to decarbonise have little impact on global climate change, as the country\u2019s emissions are lower than those of other powers, such as the U.S. and China. By contrast, the Green Party wants to accelerate progress towards net-zero.<\/p>\n There is no clear idea of just how much the green transition will cost the U.K. to achieve; however, the CCC estimates a net cost equivalent of roughly 0.2 percent of the U.K.\u2019s GDP<\/a> per year between 2025 and 2050, based on its recommended pathway. This would mean tens of billions in investment a year in upfront investment between now and the end of the decade.<\/p>\n However, a recent report by the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank suggested that achieving the net-zero target could cost more than official estimates suggest. Energy analyst David Turner said the cash costs leading up to 2050 could reach as much as \u00a37.6 trillion, compared to the cumulative \u00a3108 billion cost estimated by the CCC.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the CCC expects most of the investment to come from the private sector. It also estimates that savings from transitioning away from fossil fuels to cleaner, more efficient alternatives will outweigh costs by the early 2040s<\/a>. It would also reduce spending on tackling climate hazards.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/book.jpg\"\/)
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