The UK pledges to make all electricity generation sourced from renewable energy by 2035.
What is Happening?
- Boris Johnson has confirmed plans for all of Britain’s electricity to be generated from green power and renewable sources by 2035.
- The aim will help the UK’s path towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Boris Johnson aims for all electricity generation in the UK to be 100% sourced from Green Power and renewable energy by 2035.
Speaking at the UK Conservation party conference taking place between October 3-6, Johnson has confirmed plans for the UK’s path towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Amid the UK’s ongoing fuel crisis, caused by a shortage of truck drivers which was exacerbated by Brexit. Johnson has said a full clean power shift can help lessen the impacts of gas price fluctuations.
“Looking at the progress that we’re making in wind power, where we lead the world now in offshore wind, looking at what we can do with other renewable sources, carbon capture and storage with hydrogen potentially, we think we can get to complete clean energy production by 2035,” said Johnson in a broadcast interview.
“[100% green power] will mean that for the first time the UK is not dependent on hydrocarbons, coming from overseas, with all the vagaries in hydrocarbon prices and the risks that pose for people’s pockets and for the consumer,” he adds.
The UK is set to play host to the crucial UN climate change summit COP26 next month in Glasgow. While the country has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, a recent report has found that Britain’s policies in practice are not on track to meet the Paris Agreement climate goals.
In 2020, 43% of the UK’s electricity generation comes from renewable sources but fossil fuel-power power plants, including nuclear power, remain a significant player in national energy production.
Earlier this year, 10 Downing Street announced plans to ban all new fossil fuel vehicles by 2030 in its transport decarbonisation strategy, and Johnson hopes to replicate that with the UK energy grid.