There are three key areas where emissions from households will need to be cut: heating, transport and electricity. The graph below shows you how much we need to reduce emissions in these areas in order to reach net zero by 2050.
You’re committed to making changes to your lifestyle that will help us get to net zero faster. We’ve pulled together some useful resources to help you become a net zero hero.
Reaching net zero emissions
Bold action will be needed to reach net zero emissions in the UK. Carbon dioxide emissions from homes, transport, farming and industry will need to be cut, and residual emissions will need to be removed from the atmosphere.
We will need to change how we use our land so that it can absorb more carbon dioxide, or invest more in carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technologies that can extract CO2 directly from the atmosphere.
Now is the time to start changing the way we all use energy in our lives to help protect our world for future generations. While the net zero by 2050 goal is a bold target, the Committee on Climate Change maintains that it will be possible – but it will require clear and consistent policies to reduce emissions, alongside changes in people’s lives.
Where can you make the biggest impact?
Low carbon heating
To reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we will need to change the way we heat our homes and buildings. We will need to phase out oil and gas boilers to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, replacing them with renewable, low carbon technologies. These systems can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from households.
Low carbon heating for your home can come from a wide variety of sources: from solar thermal systems, from boilers that burn biomass or low carbon gases including hydrogen, and from heat pumps that extract the latent heat in the soil, air or a nearby water source.
We have helpful information on the different types of low carbon heating systems.
Not sure where to start?
The HACKS calculator reviews the current energy set up at your home and provides solutions to make your home more energy efficient. Answer a series of questions about the energy set up at your home to find the best solutions for you.
Interested in learning more about heat pumps?
How does an air source heat pump work?
How does a ground source heat pump work?
Switch to renewable electricity
We’ve almost completely switched away from coal power generation and massively increased the level of clean, renewable generation from wind, solar and biomass – good news in the journey to net zero.
While this is great progress, more needs to be done. By installing a renewable technology at home – like solar panels or a wind turbine – you can reduce your own reliance on fossil fuels, cut your carbon emissions – and could even save money on your bills.
Explore our advice pages to help you make the switch to renewable electricity.
Low carbon transport
Cars and other modes of transport are much cleaner today than they were 30 years ago, but overall levels of carbon emissions from transport have gone down very little. That’s because we’re all taking more journeys.
Electric vehicles have an important part to play in reducing carbon emissions from transport. Pure electric vehicles – also known as battery electric vehicles – are powered only by electricity and don’t produce any tailpipe emissions. While the initial upfront purchase price of an electric vehicle can be higher, this is usually offset by lower running costs.
If you’re ready to invest in protecting our planet for future generations, we have advice to help you make the switch to an electric vehicle.
Financial support
There is a wide range of financial assistance available to help you benefit from using renewable technologies or to support you in your switch to an electric vehicle.
Grants, loans and schemes will vary depending on where you live, but check out our financial support advice pages to find out if you’re eligible for any funding.
Reaching net zero emissions by 2050 is not going to be cheap, with some estimates putting the cost at tens of billions of pounds per year.
But what’s clear is that not aiming for net zero is not an option. The costs of disastrous effects of climate change if left unchecked will be much higher than the costs of achieving net zero.
You can’t put a price on the benefits of achieving net zero. It’s not just about cutting emissions. It’s also about bringing about a better way of life and protecting our world for future generations.
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