http://www.climateaction.org/news/uk-government-risks-fatally-undermining-net-zero-target?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=UK+Government+risks+%22fatally+undermining%22+net+zero+target+-+Climate+Action+News&utm_campaign=CA+Newsletter+24th+January+2020 

 

A new report has found that the UK Government is fatally undermining the country's ability to meet the 2050 net zero target.

 

Citizens Advice has warned that unless it puts the public at the heart of the process, the UK government will be at risk fatally undermining the country's ability to achieve net zero by 2050.

Citizens Advice is the official consumer watchdog for energy and has a statutory role in representing the interests of energy customers.

Despite a survey revealing that the commitment to reach net zero by 2050 was supported by four in five people (82%), the charity says there is a gap in public understanding about changes that will be necessary for the UK to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Only just over a third are aware they need to change the way their home is heated. The survey found that out of the people who know they will need to change their heating system, 79% said they're prepared to do so. But of those, 76% say they'd need advice or financial support such as grants, before they went ahead.

The Committee on Climate Change believes 90% of homes need to install low-carbon heating systems for the UK to meet its net-zero goal by 2050.

The net zero target will also mean 29 million homes will need their heating system replaced with low-carbon alternatives - a monumental once-in-a-lifetime challenge

Dame Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: "Public support for the changes needed to reach net zero is essential. Without it the government risks fatally undermining the country's ability to achieve a carbon neutral society, which is so urgently needed."

"The public overwhelmingly backs the net-zero target. But if people don't understand what changes will be needed to get there and the process is complex and confusing, public support could quickly fall away."

Citizens Advice say to reduce emissions there will be a change to the way we use energy, leading to new technologies and services in people's homes like smart thermostats, electric car chargers and home battery storage to become widespread.