COP28 means that the UK must now support the COP28 global goals to triple renewable capacity and double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, as well as an obligation to support the acceleration of the global transition away from fossil fuels, say the Climate Change Committee (CCC).

“The UK played an important role in this hard-fought COP28 outcome. We may be further into the decarbonisation journey than many nations, but the obligation on every country is now to push even harder. The new global adaptation framework goes further than our own so I urge the Government to lean into its global role with an even stronger demonstration of domestic ambition,” said Piers Forster, the interim chair of the CCC.

The UK Government maintained a strong presence at COP28, especially within the negotiations and through the sectoral initiatives started during the UK presidency at COP26. The UK continues to implement strong climate policies, like the new Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Committee is urging it to continue a visible presence at future COPs and reinforce the UK’s international standing.

In June 2023, the Committee noted a significant delivery gap to the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of reducing emissions by 68 per cent by 2030. The agreements made at COP28 require a sharper domestic response and time is now short for the gap to be bridged.

Achieving the 2030 NDC will require the rate of emission reductions outside of the electricity sector to quadruple from that of recent years. Addressing these gaps in a transparent way remains one of the most important ways for the UK to show climate leadership. On adaptation, the new Framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation goes beyond the UK’s current National Adaptation Programme (NAP3). NAP3 must therefore be updated within this policy cycle if it is to fulfil the targets within the Framework.

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