UK sets 87% emissions cut by 2040 under carbon budget

The UK government has set a legally binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 87 percent by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced the new goal, which covers the period from 2038 to 2042 and is known as the seventh carbon budget.

The target follows official advice from the independent Climate Change Committee and is designed to put the country on course to meet its existing legal commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The government said a detailed delivery plan for achieving the cuts will be published after Parliament approves the budget, which must happen by the end of June.

Officials framed the ambitious interim target as essential for energy security and economic stability. Miliband stated that as Britain faces its second major fossil fuel price shock in a decade, a reference to market volatility following the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East, the only way to protect family and business finances is to drive for clean, homegrown power. He argued the shift to a greener economy is a national success story that cuts costs, upgrades homes, and supports businesses.

The government cited new analysis suggesting the net...