United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution

Question 1

1.  Quantified information on the reference point

Accepted Answer

a. Reference year(s), base year(s), reference period(s) or other starting point(s);

The base year is 1990 for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and 1995 for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).

b. Quantifiable information on the reference indicators, their values in the reference year(s), base year(s), reference period(s) or other starting point(s), and, as applicable, in the target year

The reference indicator is total net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals.

Current base year estimate: 817.1 MtCO2e.
Current target year level estimate: 155.3 MtCO2e.

c. For strategies, plans and actions referred to in Article 4, paragraph 6, of the Paris Agreement, or policies and measures as components of nationally determined contributions where paragraph 1(b) above is not applicable, Parties to provide other relevant information

Not applicable ^{[footnote 5]}.

d. Target relative to the reference indicator, expressed numerically, for example in percentage or amount of reduction;

The target year level is an at least 81% reduction in total net GHG emissions and removals in 2035 compared to the base year.

e. Information on sources of data used in quantifying the reference point(s);

Current base year and target year level estimates are based on the UK National Inventory Document (NID) ^{[footnote 6]} submitted to the UNFCCC in 2024.

f. Information on the circumstances under which the Party may update the values of the reference indicators.

The UK revises its total net emissions and removals estimates annually to incorporate new data, improved methods and changes to international guidelines. Details of these revisions are set out in each UK NID.

Achievement of the UK’s NDC will be assessed by comparing total net GHG emissions and removals in 2035 with the target year level. Final base year and target year level estimates will be based on the UK NID submitted to the UNFCCC in 2037.

Question 2

2.  Time frame

Accepted Answer

a. Time frame and/or period for implementation, including start and end date, consistent with any further relevant decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement

1 January 2031 - 31 December 2035.

b. Whether it is a single-year or multi-year target, as applicable.

Single-year target in 2035.

Question 3

3. 	Scope and coverage

Accepted Answer

a. General description of the target

Economy-wide absolute emission reduction. The target year level is an at least 81% reduction in total net GHG emissions and removals in 2035 compared to the base year.

b. Sectors, gases, categories and pools covered by the nationally determined contribution, including, as applicable, consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines.

Geographic scope: The NDC for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland encompasses emissions and removals from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK’s NDC also includes emissions and removals from the UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories included within the UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement – this is currently the Bailiwick of Jersey, Guernsey ^{[footnote 7]}, Isle of Man and Gibraltar. The UK welcomes interest from all Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories on the extension of the UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement.

Sector scope: Energy (including transport); Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU); Agriculture; Land-use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF); and Waste.

International Aviation and Shipping emissions (IAS)

Emissions from IAS are not included in the scope of this NDC, in line with advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the UK’s independent advisory body for tackling climate change. The UK currently reports these emissions as a memo item in the UK’s GHG Inventory in line with IPCC guidance. The UK is supportive of efforts to reduce these emissions through action under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and has played a leading role in securing positive negotiated outcomes in these fora in recent years. This includes ICAO’s 2022 adoption of a long-term aspirational goal (LTAG) for international aviation ^{[footnote 8]}, and agreement of the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy ^{[footnote 9]}. The UK is fully committed to contributing to urgent global action at ICAO and IMO to address these emissions and put both sectors on pathways aligned with their respective net zero goals.

The UK government is clear that aviation and shipping must contribute to achieving net zero like the rest of the UK economy. The UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions will be within scope of the UK’s domestic legally binding Carbon Budget 6 (2033-37) as we approach our economy-wide target of net zero by 2050.

Pools covered: All LULUCF pools are included in the NDC: above ground biomass, below ground biomass, litter, deadwood soil organic carbon and stocks of harvested wood products.

Gas scope: CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3.

c. How paragraphs 31(c) and (d) of decision 1/CP.21 were taken into consideration

The UK includes emissions and removals from all sectors and gases and will continue to include them.

d. Mitigation co-benefits resulting from Parties’ adaptation actions and/or economic diversification plans, including description of specific projects, measures and initiatives of Parties’ adaptation actions and/or economic diversification plans

Not applicable ^{[footnote 10]}.

Question 4

4. 	Planning processes

Accepted Answer

a(i). Information on the planning processes that the Party undertook to prepare its nationally determined contribution and, if available, on the Party’s implementation plans, including, as appropriate:

a(i). Domestic institutional arrangements, public participation and engagement with local communities and indigenous peoples, in a gender-responsive manner

Domestic institutional arrangements

The UK’s NDC represents a single, economy-wide emissions reduction target for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and for those Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories included within the UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement (see section 3b for geographic scope of the NDC).

The UK employs a range of institutional structures – at national, sub-national and local level - to enable economy-wide emissions mitigation, as well as numerous policies and measures to underpin delivery of the NDC. Climate policy is devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and to the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. The approaches taken by each government will differ, drawing on the range of powers at their disposal.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is responsible for the strategic oversight of the UK’s international and domestic climate and energy policy.

The Climate Change Act (2008) ^{[footnote 11]} sets a legal framework for the UK to reduce GHG emissions and build capacity to adapt and strengthen resilience to climate risks – and commits the UK to a legally-binding target of net zero emissions by 2050, on a 1990 baseline, set on a whole-economy basis. The Climate Change Act introduced carbon budgets for the UK, which cap emissions over successive five-year periods and must be set 12 years in advance. The first six carbon budgets cover the period from 2008-37. By June 2026 we will set Carbon Budget 7, which will cover the period from 2038-2042 in line with our statutory duties. This will set out the next phase of our pathway to net zero and policies to further decarbonise the UK economy.

The Climate Change Act also requires the UK to report, as part of a 5-year cycle, on its assessment of climate change risks facing the UK and its adaptation plans to address those risks. The UK’s third National Adaptation Programme ^{[footnote 12]} (NAP3) was published on 17 July 2023 and covers the five years up to 2028. As part of the COP28 outcome on the global goal on adaptation, the UK government adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience ^{[footnote 13]}. Examples of our implementation, as well as the challenges faced, can be found in NAP3 and supporting annexes. We are considering a range of options to further strengthen the government’s approach to climate change adaptation and to accelerate progress. The next National Adaptation Programme (NAP4) is expected to be published in 2028.

The Climate Change Act also established the Climate Change Committee (CCC) – the independent statutory body that advises the UK government and devolved governments on climate change mitigation and adaptation, including emissions reduction targets. The UK asked the CCC for advice on the target and scope ahead of setting the 2035 target ^{[footnote 14]}. The CCC also provides progress reports to Parliament ^{[footnote 15]}, which include recommendations on how the UK can make further progress in adapting to the impacts of climate change, and against its emissions reduction targets including the UK’s NDCs.

Local government

Local government, including Strategic Authorities, play an essential role in driving action to help realise our national net zero targets. The UK government works closely with local government and provides support to help them contribute to delivering net zero. This includes:

Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan which will partner with, and provide funding and support to, local and Combined Authorities, as well as community energy groups, to roll out renewable energy projects and develop up to 8GW of cleaner power.
The Warm Homes Plan ^{[footnote 16]}, where the UK government will also partner with combined authorities and local and devolved administrations, will transform homes across the country by making them cleaner and cheaper to run from installing new insulation to rolling out solar and heat pumps.
Through Devolution, and as set out in the English Devolution White Paper ^{[footnote 17]}, the UK government will work closely with Strategic Authorities to drive progress on the green transition and capitalise on the social, economic and well-being benefits for local communities that this shift will deliver.

Alongside this, we have endorsed the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action pledge, which reinforces our commitment to support local government and the devolved governments to drive greater action to address the urgency of the climate crisis. The UK government has also joined the Urban Transition Mission with the aim to empower cities to transitions based on robust knowledge and a strong net-zero community of support and exchange.

We also recognise the role that many wider stakeholders play in supporting the transition – for example, Core Cities have committed to accelerating climate action and achieving net zero well before the UK statutory deadline of 2050. They are successfully working with public and private investors and their local communities to achieve a Just Transition, making the journey to net zero both fast and fair ^{[footnote 18]}.

Devolved governments

The UK government and the devolved governments have established governance arrangements at ministerial and official level to co-ordinate the approach to meeting net zero.

Northern Ireland’s Climate Change Act (2022) includes a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2050, and an interim emissions reduction target of 48% by 2030. The Act required the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to set a 2040 emissions reduction target through Regulations, which were approved by the NI Assembly on 10 December 2024, setting an emissions reduction target of 77% ^{[footnote 19]} by 2040 against 1990 greenhouse gas levels. The Act also required that DAERA brought forward regulations to set the first three carbon budgets for Northern Ireland, covering consecutive five-year periods with the first carbon budget covering 2023-2027. Regulations were approved by the Assembly on 10 December 2024, setting the first three carbon budgets at an average reduction of 33%, 48% and 62% consecutively ^{[footnote 20]}. DAERA will publish five-yearly Climate Action Plans which will set out how each carbon budget period will be achieved with the input of all Departments. DAERA will produce an interim progress report and lay it before the NI Assembly before the end of the third year of the given carbon budget period and produce a final statement by the end of the second year after each carbon budget period.

The statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland is set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 ^{[footnote 21]}. In 2019, the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act ^{[footnote 22]} amended the 2009 Climate Change (Scotland) Act and established Scotland’s target of net zero emissions by 2045. The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2024 ^{[footnote 23]} amends the 2009 Climate Change Act, replacing the annual emissions reduction target framework with five-yearly carbon budgets. The target of net zero emissions in 2045 remains unchanged, and Ministers are still required to produce annual reports on emissions progress. The new Act enables the levels of carbon budgets to be set once the latest advice has been received from the Climate Change Committee. Scotland’s next Climate Change Plan will cover the period 2026-2040.

Wales’s emission targets are set through the Environment (Wales) Act (2016) ^{[footnote 24]}. In March 2021, the Senedd formally committed Wales to achieving net zero emissions in 2050. It also passed regulations in relation to Carbon Budgets 2 and 3, and the 2030 and 2040 interim targets, as follows; Carbon Budget 2 (2021-25): 37% average reduction (with no international offsets); Carbon Budget 3 (2026-30): 58% average reduction; 2030: 63% reduction; 2040: 89% reduction. Before the end of the second year after each carbon budget, the Welsh Government must publish a final statement on progress against that budget. The Climate Change Committee must then publish its own progress report, with the Welsh Government required to respond to that report in the Senedd.

Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories

Jersey’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap ^{[footnote 25]} (2022) commits them to net zero emissions by 2050 and 68% reduction by 2030 and 78% by 2035 based on 1990 levels. Guernsey’s Climate Change Policy and Action Plan (2020) ^{[footnote 26]} sets a target to be carbon neutral by 2050, with an interim target of reducing emissions by 57% on 1990 levels by 2030. The Isle of Man has a statutory emissions reduction target of 45% by 2035, set in accordance with target setting criteria in the Climate Change Act 2021 ^{[footnote 27]}. Gibraltar’s Climate Change Act (2019) ^{[footnote 28]} sets legally binding carbon emissions reduction targets against a 1990 baseline of 42% by 2030 and 100% by 2045. Gibraltar is looking to set a 2035 interim target.

Planning process

The ICTU was prepared in collaboration with UK government departments, the devolved governments and Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories included within the UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement.

Policies and measures

The UK submitted the Net Zero Strategy ^{[footnote 29]} as the UK’s Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LTLEDS) to the UNFCCC in 2021, under Article 4, paragraph 19 of the Paris Agreement. It set out how the UK would deliver Carbon Budgets 4, 5 and 6, and the 2030 NDC, as well as net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The UK will set out an updated cross-economy plan on policies and proposals to meet carbon budgets 4-6 and the 2030 and 2035 NDCs in due course.

Strategies are supported by sector-specific and enabling plans. The following section provides a high-level overview of the domestic sector-specific policies and plans involved in delivering emissions reductions in the sectors covered by the NDC (as outlined in section 3b) but is not exhaustive. Full details can be found in the respective sectoral strategies referenced and in the forthcoming plans.

Energy (including transport)

Since July 2024, the UK government has established a mission-led approach, with the intention to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower as one of five national missions – delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero across the economy. In December 2024, the UK published the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan ^{[footnote 30]} setting out a pathway to a clean power system by 2030. The UK government also announced the creation of Great British Energy, which will be at the heart of our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. This will be a publicly owned energy company with a mission to drive clean energy deployment to boost energy independence, create jobs and ensure that UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy. This government has also committed to the Warm Homes Plan ^{[footnote 31]} to improve energy efficiency and to support the conversion to low carbon heating in British buildings.

Delivering greener transport is a priority for the UK Department for Transport, including beginning the overhaul of public transport services and better integrating transport networks to make the sustainable choice the most convenient choice through the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act ^{[footnote 32]} and Bus Services Bill ^{[footnote 33]}. The UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate ^{[footnote 34]} is the world’s most ambitious national level regulatory framework of its kind, with annual minimum targets for the proportion of new cars and vans sold in the UK from 2024 rising to 80% of cars and 70% of vans by 2030 on a pathway to 100% by 2035. The UK is also committed to phasing out new cars relying solely on internal combustion engines by 2030, and on 24 December 2024 published a consultation seeking views on which type of hybrid car can be sold from 2030-2035 ^{[footnote 35]}.

We will consult on our commitment to not issue new oil and gas licenses to explore new fields. Further emissions reductions from upstream oil and gas will be delivered through decarbonisation measures set out in the North Sea Transition Authority’s 2024 OGA Plan ^{[footnote 36]}, such as ending routine flaring and venting by 2030 and platform electrification. The UK oil and gas sector has one of the lowest upstream methane emission intensities globally, having achieved the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative’s 0.2% intensity target for 2025 early ^{[footnote 37]}.

Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU)

The UK government is committed to publishing a new Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy by 2026, which alongside the Industrial Strategy, will support the transition towards our net zero target across the economy.

On 4th October 2024, the government reached commercial agreement with the private sector and announced up to £21.7bn of available funding over 25 years to launch the UK’s new carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen industries to make the UK an early leader in these two growing global sectors. We expect this funding to support up to 4,000 direct jobs, with CCUS as a whole supporting up to 50,000 jobs when the sector matures into the 2030s.

The UK is committed under the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the UN Montreal Protocol to phase down hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) consumption, the most common type of F-gas, by 85% by 2036. We are currently reviewing our domestic (Great Britain) F-gas Regulation, with the aim of consulting in 2025 on options for reform.

Agriculture

The government is committed to working with farmers and industry to reduce emissions in the farming sector. The transition to more climate friendly practices does not need to come at the expense of our food security or farm productivity. We will support farmers to adopt low carbon farming practices, increasing the carbon stored on their land while boosting profitability through our Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) and associated grant schemes. These schemes provide a powerful vehicle for achieving net zero, and wider environmental goals, while supporting our rural economy. For example, the Sustainable Farming Incentive ^{[footnote 38]} pays farmers and land managers to take up or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that protect and enhance the natural environment, support food production and boost farm productivity and resilience. We are continuing the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery (which are the other two ELM schemes) are also continuing. We are optimising our farming schemes, so they work efficiently for farmers, food security and the environment. ELMs and capital grants will continue to support farmers to take up low carbon practices and technologies to reduce inputs (e.g. integrated pest management, reducing soil compaction, precision farming and feeding).

The UK’s Methane Memorandum ^{[footnote 39]} was published in November 2022, taking stock of previous progress in tackling methane emissions and future plans. We are exploring measures including new and innovative technologies to improve abatement potential in the agriculture sector.

Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)

Action to protect, restore and sustainably manage forests and high-carbon, biodiversity rich ecosystems like peatlands can deliver a significant and cost-effective contribution to mitigation and to adaptation. A statutory target to increase woodland and tree canopy cover to at least 16.5% of land area in England by 2050 was legislated for in 2023.

The government is committed to create or restore at least 45,000 miles of managed hedgerows in England by 2050, which will maintain healthy soils and grow cover crops. The government will continue supporting farmers and landowners in their low-carbon practices. We will restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of peatland and are developing long term delivery mechanisms for peatland restoration. In November 2024, the government launched a national tree planting taskforce ^{[footnote 40]}. The government will also publish a Land Use Framework for England which will outline the government’s commitment to stewardship of land use change and codesign of land use policy.

Waste

The government is committed to delivering a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland in October 2027. Simpler Recycling in England, which will further minimise waste going to landfill, will be implemented on a phased timeline - beginning from March 2025 for non-household premises in scope and March 2026 for households. Regulations underpinning Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) came into force on 1 January 2025. These regulations introduce new obligations transferring the costs of managing household packaging waste from local authorities to producers who place that household packaging on the market. Together, these reforms constitute a significant step towards meeting our 25 Year Environment Plan commitment to eliminate avoidable waste by 2050 and will help towards meeting our recycling ambition of 65% of municipal (household-like) waste to be recycled by 2035. It will enable us to make significant carbon savings and is key to meeting our net zero ambitions. We are also developing policies across the UK to achieve the near elimination of biodegradable municipal wastes being sent to landfill.

Trade

UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

The UK ETS is an essential part of our approach to cutting emissions and driving green investment. By setting a limit – the cap – on emissions and creating a carbon price for the power sector, heavy industry and aviation, the scheme incentivises investment in decarbonisation. We have reduced the cap on emissions, aligning it with the UK and devolved government climate targets, including net zero by 2050 and our NDCs, to ensure the sectors covered decarbonise at the pace required to contribute to achieving our climate goals.

The alignment of the cap with our climate targets followed a public consultation in 2022 on developing the UK ETS. We have also consulted on expanding the scheme to domestic maritime transport from 2026, and energy from waste and waste incineration from 2028. This will bring more sectors under the scheme’s cap and therefore ensure they decarbonise in line with our climate targets. We will also include engineered greenhouse gas removals in the UK ETS in the future, subject to further consultation.

Carbon Leakage

There is a risk that the objective of the UK’s decarbonisation – to reduce global emissions – could be undermined by carbon leakage. Carbon leakage is the movement of production and associated emissions from one country to another due to different levels of decarbonisation effort through carbon pricing and climate regulation. The UK is acting internationally and domestically to seek to address carbon leakage, including working with international partners in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UN, World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Climate Club.

In December 2023, the government announced its intention to introduce a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from 1 January 2027. As set out in the consultation on the detailed design and implementation of a UK CBAM, published in March 2024, a CBAM will mitigate carbon leakage by ensuring that highly traded, carbon intensive goods from overseas face a comparable carbon price to that incurred by UK-based production. In October 2024, the government issued a response ^{[footnote 41]} to the March 2024 UK CBAM consultation, confirming that from 1 January 2027, the CBAM will apply to emissions embodied in imports for specified goods in the following sectors at risk of carbon leakage: aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, and iron and steel. The UK CBAM will require both primary and secondary legislation. The government intend to publish all legislation in draft ahead of introduction before Parliament. This will allow interested stakeholders to review the legislation and ensure it meets the policy intent.

International commitments

In addition to delivering on our domestic policies to meet the NDC, as set out above, the UK has launched, built international support for, and signed up to, a range of sectoral pledges and initiatives – demonstrating our commitment to working with other countries to collectively meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

For example, in November 2024, the UK launched the Global Clean Power Alliance ^{[footnote 42]} – uniting countries to speed up transition globally. And at COP29, the UK:

signed the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge ^{[footnote 43]}, which targets a sixfold increase in global energy storage to 1500GW and expanding or upgrading 25 million kilometers of grids by 2030 – critical for decarbonising the power sector and building on the agreement at COP28 to triple renewables by 2030.
joined the international Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives Including Subsidies ^{[footnote 44]} which is a coalition of governments working together to remove barriers and facilitate transparency toward the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies.
announced £5 million to help developing countries tackle methane emissions in their fossil fuel sectors – this is part of our efforts to support collective delivery of the Global Methane Pledge ^{[footnote 45]} launched at COP26.

The UK continues to engage with a number of international initiatives dedicated to accelerating climate action, including: the Breakthrough Agenda - accelerating international collaboration to deliver clean energy by 2030 through Breakthroughs in the road transport, steel, power, hydrogen, agriculture (all of which the UK co-leads), buildings and cement and concrete sectors ^{[footnote 46]}; the Powering Past Coal Alliance ^{[footnote 47]}; the Energy Transition Council; the Green Grids Initiative ^{[footnote 48]}; Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs); the Zero Emission Vehicles Transition Council ^{[footnote 49]}; the Clean Energy Innovation Facility (CEIF) ^{[footnote 50]}; the Accelerate to Demonstrate Facility (A2D) ^{[footnote 51]}; the Clean Energy Transition Partnership ^{[footnote 52]}, linked to which the UK continues to implement its policy on aligning international public support for the clean energy transition.

The UK also remains committed to a number of pledges and statements that it has signed, including: the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement ^{[footnote 53]}; the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use ^{[footnote 54]} - which set a precedent for shared commitments to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 recalled by Parties to the First Global Stocktake; the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) Declaration ^{[footnote 55]}; the Product Efficiency Call to Action ^{[footnote 56]}; the COP28 Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge; and the Tripling Global Nuclear Pledge.

Devolved governments’ policies and measures

Northern Ireland’s Climate Change Act (2022) requires that some Northern Ireland Departments must develop and publish Sectoral Plans which set out how the 2030, 2040 and Net Zero targets will be met by the sectors specified in the Act. The Green Growth Strategy, which was consulted on in October 2021 ^{[footnote 57]}, is the Northern Ireland Executive’s multi-decade strategy which seeks to balance climate, the environment and the economy in Northern Ireland. Additionally, The Energy Strategy - Path to Net Zero Energy ^{[footnote 58]} is Northern Ireland’s current energy strategy which sets a long-term vision of net zero carbon and affordable energy for Northern Ireland by 2050. DAERA’s Farm Support and Development Programme is introducing schemes that will be essential levers in contributing to Northern Ireland’s statutory obligations under the Climate Change Act. In March 2020, DAERA announced a ‘Forests for Our Future’ programme which aims to create 9,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030 mainly through operating its Forestry Grant Schemes. In the longer term, working within the scope of the NI Forestry Strategy, the NI aim is to achieve 12% woodland cover by 2050. In the longer term, working within the scope of the NI Forestry Strategy, the NI aim is to achieve 12% woodland cover by 2050. In January 2025, Northern Ireland introduced the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (VETS) Order 2023, aligning with England, Scotland and Wales. The VETS legislation will be key in meeting the 2030, 2040 and Net Zero targets for all the sectors specified in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to ending Scotland’s contribution to global emissions as soon as possible, and by 2045 at the latest (through a statutory net zero target). The Scottish Government consulted ^{[footnote 59]} on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill and a Social Housing Net Zero standard that would require landlords to improve fabric efficiency and install clean heating where it is technically feasible and cost-effective to do so. In January 2024, Scotland introduced the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023, alongside England and Wales, and extended to Northern Ireland in 2025. The VETS legislation is seen as the single most important measure to deliver net zero for the automotive sector. Additionally, the Scottish Government is transforming the way we support farming and food production in Scotland to deliver our Vision for Agriculture ^{[footnote 60]} and become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. On 18 April 2024, the Scottish Government announced an accelerated package of new climate action measures to support Scotland’s just transition to net zero ^{[footnote 61]}.

The Welsh Government has taken the first step towards a net zero pathway for 2050 by publishing Net Zero Wales ^{[footnote 62]}, in October 2021, covering Wales’s second carbon budget period 2021–25. It contains 123 policies and proposals across all ministerial portfolios and looks beyond to start building the foundations for Wales’s third carbon budget (2026-2030) and 2030 interim target. In 2025, following advice from the Climate Change Committee, the Senedd will be asked to agree the targets for Carbon Budget 4 (2031-2035).

Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories’ policies and measures

Guernsey’s energy Policy ^{[footnote 63]} and Electricity Strategy ^{[footnote 64]} includes plans to decarbonise the electricity sector with additional interconnection and on island renewables by 2035. Guernsey’s Integrated Transport Strategy ^{[footnote 65]} aims to reduce the number of car journeys and increase participation in active travel ^{[footnote 66]} and Guernsey’s Waste Strategy ^{[footnote 67]} and Waste Management Plan ^{[footnote 68]} aims to reduce emissions from transporting organic waste to the green waste site, and from associated processing.

Jersey’s decarbonisation policies are described in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap (2022). The focus is on the electrification of on-Island heating and transport, including proposed legislation to prohibit both the importation and registration of fossil fuel vehicles new to the Island and the installation of fossil fuel boilers as well as incentive schemes for low carbon heating, electric vehicles and the installation of charging points. Jersey’s Economic Framework for the Rural Environment ^{[footnote 69]} set outs emissions reduction strategies for the agriculture industry.

The Isle of Man has a statutory emissions reduction target of 45% by 2035, set in accordance with target setting criteria in the Climate Change Act 2021. Delivery of those targets is supported by the Act’s requirement to have a climate plan in place at all times and by actions contained within the Isle of Man Climate Change Plan 2022-2027 ^{[footnote 70]}. Headline actions include 100% decarbonisation of the Island’s fossil fuel electricity supply by 2030 and a ban on the registration of Internal Combustion Engine vehicles in 2030 and hybrids in 2035.

Gibraltar’s Climate Change Strategy ^{[footnote 71]} looks to reduce emissions across the energy, buildings, waste and transport sectors. It includes the commitment to deliver 50% of all electricity from renewables by 2030, the introduction of a carbon tax to discourage multiple vehicle ownership and to only allow first registration of electric vehicles as from 2035.

Collectively, these strategies, pledges, policies and measures will support delivery of the UK’s NDC by 2035.

Just Transition

The UK is dedicated to supporting workers, communities and businesses to transition to net zero. As part of the Clean Power Mission to reach clean power by 2030, the UK has established an Office for Clean Energy Jobs (“the Office”) to explore what is needed to ensure our workforce can deliver the dramatic pace of change needed to reach this goal. The Office is dedicated to ensuring that clean energy jobs are not only abundant, but also of high quality, focussing on fair pay, favourable terms, and good working conditions.

The government is creating Skills England - a new national body to bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all the regions of England and create a shared national ambition to boost the nation’s skills. This new body will support a just transition, ensuring workers benefit from the economic opportunities of our transition to net zero, while enabling employers to source the critical skills they need. Through continued investment in training and education, strong partnerships with industry, active engagement with Trades Unions, collaboration with local authorities, and targeted government policies, Skills England will unify the skills landscape to ensure the system is clear, navigable for employers, and delivers the training required to power economic growth. The government is also reforming the apprenticeships offer into a new levy-funded growth and skills offer. This will deliver greater flexibility for learners and employers in England, aligned with the government’s industrial strategy creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, including in clean energy industries. The government will also accelerate the delivery of an Energy Skills Passport to support oil and gas workers to transition to renewable energy.

The UK supports and leads several high-profile multilateral alliances and declarations, including the Powering Past Coal Alliance, Clean Energy Transition Partnership, Energy Transition Council and Green Grids Initiative, which seek to increase clean energy investment and set clear pathways for a secure, just transition from the use of fossil fuels.

At COP26, the UK brought forward the International Just Transition Declaration ^{[footnote 72]} which sets out how Donor countries would ensure that overseas funding is playing its part to create good, green jobs through their international climate finance (ICF) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes in developing and emerging economies.

The UK continues to support energy transition internationally through a range of mechanisms including the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs). The JETPs offer bespoke country-led platforms to support governments’ ambitious energy transition plans to drive inclusive and resilient growth and mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable members of society.

Gender-responsive action

The UK recognises that women and girls – alongside other marginalised people – are disproportionately impacted by climate change and are also critical leaders and agents of change in climate action. Public authorities must fulfil responsibilities set out under the UK’s Equality Act (2010) ^{[footnote 73]}, which covers a range of protected characteristics when implementing policies to meet the 2035 NDC.

The UK is dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion, including women’s empowerment, gender equality and the implementation of the UNFCCC work programme on gender, following extension of the Enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender at COP29. At COP28, the UK endorsed the Gender-Responsive Just Transitions Partnership Pledge ^{[footnote 74]} which aims to increase efforts to mainstream gender-just considerations across the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy in international and domestic approaches.

The UK also supports the POWERful Women initiative and other energy sector groups in their work towards increasing gender equality in the clean energy sector. This includes supporting Women in Nuclear, which encourages girls and women into the nuclear industry. The UK is a signatory to the Clean Energy Ministerial Equality in Energy Transitions, which aims to advance women’s participation in the clean energy revolution and enable greater gender diversity in the clean energy professions. The UK is also a signatory to Equal by 30, the Clean Energy Ministerial Campaign to work towards equal pay, equal leadership, and equal opportunities for women in the clean energy sector by 2030. The UK is a strongly supportive and engaged member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Gender Advisory Council, which is intended to guide work on gender diversity and improve equal opportunities in the energy sector. It will help to take forward the IEA Gender Diversity Initiative and will strengthen collaboration with the CEM Equality Initiative and Equal by 30.

The UK has provided funding and support to widen participation including the full, meaningful, and equal participation and leadership of women in all aspects of the UNFCCC. The UK also continues to work with delivery partners to capture the impacts of International Climate Finance (ICF) programmes on certain groups of people and to embed gender mainstreaming into every stage of the programme cycle. The UK’s Climate Ambition Support Alliance (CASA) ^{[footnote 75]} has provided funding for the active participation of women in international climate negotiations from the Alliance of Small Island States, the Least Developed Countries Group and the High Ambition Coalition. The UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) ^{[footnote 76]} programme has developed gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) guidance ^{[footnote 77]}. As part of its commitments under the Generation Equality Forum’s Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice ^{[footnote 78]}, the UK will strengthen collection and use of data on gender, inclusion and climate.

Public Participation

As agreed at COP26, the Glasgow Work Programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) highlights the key role that a broad range of stakeholders - such as youth, national, regional and local governments, non-governmental organisations, scientists, women and indigenous peoples - play in fostering greener economies and that these people are all important decision-makers who can drive climate action and are agents of change. The UK is also a Party to the Aarhus Convention, a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Treaty which provides for access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters.

The UK is committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the transition to net zero, supporting people and communities to take action and demonstrating the benefits of the transition. A Net Zero Public Participation Strategy will be published in 2025. This will include how we support people to adopt new technologies, as well as opportunities to ensure that public views are considered in the development of policy towards meeting net zero and including meeting our 2030 and 2035 NDCs.

When setting the 2035 NDC target and scope, the government discussed the approach with a variety of stakeholders, such as civil society, business groups and academics to capture their views. The 2035 NDC was covered in correspondence and parliamentary questions with representatives of these groups and interested Parliamentarians and relevant Select Committees. The government also considered written briefings on the NDC provided by Climate Action Network-UK (CAN-UK), We Mean Business, Worldwide Fund for Nature UK (WWF), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Grantham Institute, World Resources Institute, Global Renewables Alliance and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) amongst others. A copy of the UK’s 2035 NDC ICTU will be laid in the UK’s Houses of Parliament.

Youth and Children

The Glasgow Climate Pact urges Parties and stakeholders to ensure meaningful youth participation and representation in multilateral, national and local decision-making processes. Young people are integral to the net zero transition, both through the choices they make and their support for wider changes in their lives. It is vital that net zero decision-making takes into account their views and needs.

At COP29, the UK endorsed the Universal Youth Clause in NDCs ^{[footnote 79]}. In line with this, the UK recognises the importance of ensuring young people are engaged in both the design and implementation of climate-related policies where relevant and that young people are important drivers of climate action and agents of change. The UK also recognises the importance of providing children and young people with the knowledge, skills and behaviours, to understand and develop a connection to the natural world, access green careers and enable them to thrive in life and work in a world with a changing climate.

In April 2022 in England, the Department for Education published ‘Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems’. To emphasise the importance of education as an essential tool to mitigate and adapt to climate change, we are committing to review and update our strategy in 2025. DfE [UK] also appointed two Youth Focal Points for Sustainability and Climate Change ^{[footnote 80]} in 2023, in partnership with Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK), for a two-year term (from 2023-25) to work with the DfE [UK] to feed into the implementation and evaluation of the Strategy. Beyond this, we will continue to elevate youth voices in developing climate change policy and ensure a role for young people to feedback and challenge our progress. And as part of our Net Zero Public Participation strategy, to be published in 2025, we will consider the important role of young people.

Please see section 4a(ii)c for more information about education and skills.

Devolved government’s public participation

Devolved governments also engage in public participation, for example – as part of the legislative development process of Northern Ireland’s Climate Change Act (2022), a public consultation was launched ^{[footnote 81]}, which provided the opportunity for both public and stakeholder engagement. There is a legislative requirement in Scotland, established under the Climate Change Act (Scotland) 2009, to publish a public engagement strategy for climate change - the Scottish Government’s current Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change (2021-2026) ^{[footnote 82]} recognises the vital role of public and community engagement in facilitating a societal transition to a net zero and climate resilient nation. The Welsh Government’s Engagement approach around Climate Change 2022-26 ^{[footnote 83]} was published in June 2022 and provides a framework for working with Team Wales partners around the delivery of Net Zero Wales (Carbon Budget 2) ^{[footnote 84]}.

Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories public participation

A people-powered approach was prioritised through the development of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap in Jersey. This included Jersey’s first citizens’ assembly held on climate change alongside a public campaign, the ‘Climate Conversation’ carried out in 2021. This informed the level of ambition of the roadmap and led to the second most responded to consultation in Jersey. There is a specific climate change and sustainability engagement team within the Jersey Government who continues to engage with key stakeholders, industry, and the public. Climate change duties for public bodies set out in the Isle of Man’s Climate Change Act 2021 include support for the just transition and climate justice principles. As part of statutory guidance for Manx public bodies the Isle of Man issued the Fair Change Framework ^{[footnote 85]} which encourages participatory policy development. Gibraltar’s environment and climate policies are discussed with non-governmental organisations and relevant business representatives before publication. Future revisions of Gibraltar’s climate change strategy will be open to full public participation.

Businesses

Businesses play a pivotal role in the net zero transition, not only by driving innovation and investment but also by decarbonising their operations and investing in the low-carbon solutions needed to transform their sectors and supply chains to deliver systemic change. They are also at the forefront of developing and deploying transformative low-carbon technologies, from renewable energy solutions to nature-based approaches. With more than 90% of global GDP now covered by net zero targets and a growing demand for low-carbon products and services, businesses are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. The global ‘Race to Zero’ ^{[footnote 86]} campaign exemplifies this leadership, with over half of its business and financial signatories, as of mid-2024, being UK-based.

The benefits of this transition are clear: businesses that take early action to reduce emissions can benefit from lower energy costs, improve energy security, and strengthen their public reputation. However, realising these opportunities requires strong partnerships between businesses, government, and civil society. We have relaunched the Net Zero Council, deepening our partnership with the private sector and civil society. The Council will provide strategic leadership to help address cross-economy challenges and maximise the opportunities of the transition.

Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up the backbone of the economy, is vital in this endeavour. We support the UK Business Climate Hub which provides advice to support SMEs to reduce their emissions. Larger businesses can play a critical role by supporting SMEs to decarbonise their operations and engaging across global supply chains to align sustainability standards.

Businesses also play an important role in advocating for ambitious policy frameworks, driving sustainable finance, and committing to transparent emissions reporting and science-based targets. By aligning ambition with action, businesses and policymakers can jointly ensure the effective delivery of the UK’s 2035 NDC.

Civil Society

Civil society plays a pivotal role in advocating for robust climate policies, mobilising public opinion, providing valuable scientific evidence, knowledge, strategies, and resources, and engaging in dialogue with decision-makers. In preparing the 2035 NDC, DESNZ has greatly valued discussions and input from civil society organisations, such as Climate Action Network-UK and its members, who play an invaluable role in bringing together a wide range of organisations with a common purpose of addressing climate change and highlighting the voices and experiences of people most affected. We will continue to engage and seek views from civil society organisations on the implementation of the NDC.

a(ii). Contextual matters, including:

a(ii)a. National circumstances, such as geography, climate, economy, sustainable development and poverty eradication

For the UK’s national circumstances, including climate, population, and economy, please see the UK’s 1st Biennial Transparency Report ^{[footnote 87]}.

The UK is committed to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information about the UK’s approach to international development (currently undergoing an external review), please see the Minister for Development’s October 2024 speech at Chatham House ^{[footnote 88]}.

a(ii)b. Best practice and experience related to the preparation of the nationally determined contribution.

The UK’s NDC follows the rules for transparency and understanding set out in Decision 4/CMA.1. As described in Section 4a(i), development of the NDC has been closely linked with the UK’s domestic processes for delivery of the net zero commitment under the framework of the Climate Change Act. In determining the target level, DESNZ has led work across UK government departments to identify the UK’s highest possible ambition, taking account of a range of factors including outcomes from the Global Stocktake – in particular analysis on alignment with 1.5⁰C, requirements and principles in the Paris Agreement, the latest available science, robust analysis of domestic decarbonisation potential, the UK’s legally binding net zero commitment and advice from the Climate Change Committee. ^{[footnote 89]}

A range of UK government departments, the devolved governments, and the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories included within the UK’s ratification of the Paris Agreement were involved in setting the UK’s economy-wide emissions reduction target and the development of this ICTU. This is crucial, given that ownership of the policies required to reduce emissions is spread across government. Going forward, the UK will continue to follow UNFCCC guidelines and use domestic governance and engagement to track progress against the NDC. For more information on the UK’s domestic institutional structures and GHG inventory governance, see Section 4a(i).

a(ii)c. Other contextual aspirations and priorities acknowledged when joining the Paris Agreement

In line with the opening paragraphs of the Paris Agreement, the UK continues to make progress on several priority policy areas that are crucial to the UK’s overall approach to climate action: including on nature and biodiversity, ocean and marine environment, food security, sustainability, health and air pollution, education and skills. This section includes further detail on the UK’s progress in these areas, where not already covered in the ICTU.

The UK recognises the crucial role of the protection, sustainable management and restoration of nature, including forests and the ocean, for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The UK also recognises the importance of joining up approaches to tackling the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity, and pollution, including by improving coordination between international conventions (such as the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification) and through nature-based solutions and joined-up design and delivery of NDCs, National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and other relevant strategies.

To ensure synergy and coordination on these, DESNZ, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) work together, with other departments, to jointly develop and deliver the government’s international and domestic priorities across climate, nature and energy. These priorities are kept under review and are updated taking account of progress made internationally.

The UK’s Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021) requires the government to have an Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) for England, to significantly improve the natural environment. The 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP) was the first EIP. A statutory review of the EIP must be completed at least every 5 years. Its first revision, in January 2023, included 13 legally binding environmental targets set under the EA 2021, which cover air quality, water, biodiversity, resource efficiency and waste reduction, tree and woodland cover, and Marine Protected Areas. In July 2024 the government announced a review and revision of the EIP to protect and restore our natural environment, that will focus on cleaning up our waterways, reducing waste across the economy, planting millions more trees, improving air quality and halting the decline in species by 2030. It will include delivery information to help meet each of our ambitious EA 2021 targets.

The Environmental Principles ^{[footnote 90]} duty of the Environment Act 2021 also underscores the government’s commitment to leaving the environment in a better state for future generations: it requires ministers to have due regard to the Environmental Principles Policy Statement when making policy. When developing interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the UK government gives due consideration to impacts on air pollution and public health, as well as to other wider environmental outcomes. This approach ensures that wider environmental effects (positive and negative) are given due consideration when policy is drafted.

Biodiversity and nature

The UK has committed to protect 30% of our land and sea by 2030. Our 30by30 commitment sits at the very heart of our aim to ensure nature’s recovery. Delivering this target on land in England means ensuring that our most important and wildlife-rich habitats are benefiting from effective, long-term conservation and management, supporting their resilience to climate change. 30by30 will also support the nature-based solutions that will help us achieve our net zero target, such as peatland restoration ^{[footnote 91]}. Reaching this target will be supported by our continued commitment to deliver on our legally binding targets within the Environment Act 2021.

The UK submitted its National Targets to the Convention on Biological Diversity on 1st August 2024 ^{[footnote 92]}. These commit the UK to achieving each of the 23 global targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at home. This includes our commitment to achieve Target 8 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which commits us to minimise the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and build resilience including through nature-based solutions. These UK National Targets are underpinned by a robust set of specific commitments and policies at UK and national level to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Further details on how the UK will deliver against these National targets will be set out in our full UK National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which will be published in due course.

The UK also endorsed the COP28 Joint Statement on Climate, Nature and People ^{[footnote 93]} which affirmed that there is no path to achieving the Paris Agreement or the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) without urgently addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation together in a synergistic and coherent manner. We will continue to support better policy coherence between climate and biodiversity at the national and international level, in line with the recent Decision 16/22 from the Convention on Biological Diversity. In addition, the UK supports an integrated approach to scaling up climate and nature finance from all sources, and to aligning financial flows with the Paris Agreement and the GBF, recognising the synergies and need to maximise the co-benefits.

The UK is signatory to a range of international environmental agreements covering not only climate change and nature loss, but also those aimed at tackling pollution, including chemicals, waste, and plastics. The UK remains fully committed to fulfilling its responsibilities and leading progress under these.

DAERA published Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan in September 2024 ^{[footnote 94]}. The Plan contains a commitment on DAERA to develop and publish a new Nature Recovery Strategy. It is intended that the new Strategy will be published in 2025. DAERA has also taken forward the development of a Northern Ireland Peatlands Strategy 2022-2040 ^{[footnote 95]}. The draft strategy sets out the strategic objectives and associated targets and actions to conserve and restore peatlands in Northern Ireland. DAERA’s Farm Support and Development Programme will include a Farming with Nature Package that aims to contribute to the delivery of many of DAERA’s strategic environmental outcomes by supporting farmers and land managers to make substantial contributions to environmental improvements and sustainability.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering improved and enduring benefits to the natural environment through the Environment Strategy for Scotland ^{[footnote 96]}. Sitting beneath this, the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy published in November 2024 ^{[footnote 97]} takes into account the new post-2020 global biodiversity framework and targets for the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2050 vision. The Scottish Biodiversity Programme ^{[footnote 98]} has been created to coordinate all activity on biodiversity including the development of a future strategic framework for biodiversity that compromises both terrestrial and marine aspects.

The Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP) is the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Wales ^{[footnote 99]}, and was refreshed for 2020-2021. It sets out how the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the associated Aichi Biodiversity Targets are addressed in Wales. Relevant actions include developing the new Sustainable Land Management scheme and the National Forest for Wales, work to improve the condition of Protected Sites Network, and the National Peatland Action Programme.

Guernsey’s Strategy for Nature ^{[footnote 100]} sets out a framework to enable the long-term management of nature in Guernsey. It also seeks to maximise biodiversity and ensure its resilience to a changing climate. Jersey is protecting on-Island carbon sinks through the Island Plan ^{[footnote 101]} and natural area protection and enhancement programmes, such as the Jersey National Park, Ramsar sites, Biodiversity action plan, tree strategy and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) programme. Isle of Man’s Biodiversity Strategy 2015 – 2025 ^{[footnote 102]} remains in effect and is under review to determine what additional commitments can be made to deliver the targets in the CBD Global Biodiversity Framework. Gibraltar’s Nature Reserve Management Plan ^{[footnote 103]} sets out the key conservation objectives for the territory, including an ambitious rewilding programme.

Ocean and marine environment

The UK’s vision is for clean, healthy, safe, and biologically diverse ocean and seas. Our efforts to deliver that vision are underpinned by the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) ^{[footnote 104]}, Environment Act (2021) ^{[footnote 105]}, Fisheries Act (2020) ^{[footnote 106]}, UK Marine Policy Statement ^{[footnote 107]}, UK Marine Strategy ^{[footnote 108]}, and Joint Fisheries Statement ^{[footnote 109]}. These responsibilities will help build a resilient marine environment that supports coastal communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The UK’s third National Adaptation Programme sets out extensive plans to adapt to the risks of a warming climate in the marine environment. It includes plans to protect, restore and create coastal and marine habitats and manage the risks and opportunities to marine species, habitats and fisheries.

Approximately 90% of saltmarsh and 70% of seagrass habitats in the UK are within marine protected areas. Coastal and marine habitats such as these play an important role in supporting mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. We have embedded in law their value as wildlife rich habitats in the Environment Act and our focus is on ensuring these are effectively protected. The UK funds restoration of these habitats directly – including through ELMs – and we are working to drive private investment into their creation and restoration through initiatives like the Nature Investment Standards programme. The UK has committed to filling the evidence gaps that currently prevent the inclusion of coastal wetlands (including saltmarsh habitats) for mitigation purposes in our Greenhouse Gas Inventory. To achieve this goal, we are working with administrations from across the UK, through the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership.

The UK recognises that robust scientific knowledge underpins effective mitigation and adaptation action in the marine environment. We invest in the UK’s world-leading ocean science community and work in partnership, including through the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership and UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, to further our understanding of the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on the marine environment, options for adaptation, and the benefits and risks of ocean-based mitigation strategies.

The UK is committed to managing our fisheries sustainably. We will work in partnership with the seafood sector to co-develop climate adaptive fisheries measures to support a sustainable fishing industry alongside a healthy and productive marine environment. The Climate Change Objective in the Fisheries Act ensures that fisheries management policy considers climate change mitigation and adaptation where appropriate. Fisheries administrations have introduced policies to achieve this objective through the legally binding Joint Fisheries Statement and Fisheries Management Plans. As part of the UK Seafood Fund, grant funding has been provided to help purchase new, more fuel-efficient engines to reduce emissions. These marine and fisheries policies, plans and actions will also contribute towards the UK’s NBSAP and National Targets.

The draft Marine Plan for Northern Ireland ^{[footnote 110]}, published in April 2018, supports the UK Marine Policy Statement, the UK Marine Strategy and Vision. The plan facilitates the sustainable development of Northern Ireland’s marine area and is further underpinned by the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 ^{[footnote 111]} and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 ^{[footnote 112]}. The NI Marine Plan currently being prepared for adoption in early 2025, will include Climate Change as a critical consideration by decision makers. In 2021, DAERA commenced the development of the Blue Carbon Action Plan ^{[footnote 113]} for Northern Ireland, with the intent to publish it by March 2025. The first Marine Protected Area (MPA) was published in 2014, which has now been reviewed, with DAERA consulting on the MPA Strategy ^{[footnote 114]} for Northern Ireland Inshore Area 2024-2030 between April 2024 and August 2024. The intent is to publish the MPA Strategy in 2025.

The Scottish Government has set out a new Blue Economy vision for the sustainable management of Scotland’s seas, establishing long term outcomes to 2045 and including a dedicated climate outcome to support ecosystem health, improved livelihoods, economic prosperity, social inclusion and wellbeing. New actions to increase protection of the marine environment include introducing fisheries management measures across the offshore Marine Protected Area (MPA) network by 2025, and to consult on the inshore MPA network during the current programme for government and introduction of a Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy. New evidence is also being delivered through the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum, building upon actions set out in the second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme ^{[footnote 115]} to address Scotland’s marine climate risks.

In November 2019 the Welsh Government published the first Welsh National Marine Plan ^{[footnote 116]}. This sets out policy for the next 20 years to achieve healthy and resilient seas and marine ecosystems, in support of a thriving, sustainable economy. The Plan provides the strategic framework to enable renewable energy generation at sea.

Jersey’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap ^{[footnote 117]} sets an ambition to promote Jersey as a centre of excellence for blue carbon sequestration. The Jersey Marine Spatial Plan ^{[footnote 118]}, was agreed in October 2024 and sets out how Jersey territorial waters should be utilised and protected to ensure the correct balance of competing uses. Guernsey aims to publish a marine spatial plan by the end of 2025, which will include setting out the sustainable use of the island’s marine environment and informing the potential for marine carbon sequestration. The Isle of Man’s ‘The Manx Blue Carbon Project’ ^{[footnote 119]} began in 2022, working with Bangor and Swansea Universities, as well as with the UK National Oceanography Centre to research and map blue carbon stores in the Isle of Man territorial sea. The project aims to develop a comprehensive blue carbon management plan to maximise carbon sequestration and maintain and restore related biodiversity and wider ecosystem services. Gibraltar’s updated Marine Monitoring Programme ^{[footnote 120]} focuses on strategies to increase biodiversity and reduce marine litter and underwater noise among others. Gibraltar is also looking to promote blue carbon sequestration, and the Department of the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change and Heritage is supporting non-governmental organisation, the Nautilus Project, on its Darwin Plus Local funded ^{[footnote 121]} project to restore local seagrass habitats along Gibraltar’s coastline.

Food security

The UK is committed to delivering a sustainable food system, ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious and healthier food ^{[footnote 122]}. The UK’s Agriculture Act ^{[footnote 123]} obligates the UK government to produce a report on UK food security every three years. The UK published its first UK Food Security Report (UKFSR) under the Agriculture Act in December 2021 ^{[footnote 124]}. The second UKSFR ^{[footnote 125]} was published in December 2024. The UKFSR provides an analysis of statistics across a wide range of areas affecting food security and is an evidence base for policy and public understanding. This includes analysis of the impacts of climate change on food supply on domestic and international levels.

The UK endorsed the COP28 Declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action ^{[footnote 126]}. The UK is committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 2 on ending hunger.

The first Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework was published in November 2024 ^{[footnote 127]} - and is a new strategic collaborative approach around food that will help to improve economic, environmental, health and social outcomes for Northern Ireland. The agreed Food Strategy Framework sets the direction of travel for cross-departmental working around food in Northern Ireland. Work is ongoing to develop a cross-departmental action plan for publication in mid-2025. DAERA ran a public consultation on Future Agricultural Policy Proposals for Northern Ireland from December 2021 to February 2022 ^{[footnote 128]}. The Future Agricultural Policy Framework Portfolio set out a series of proposals around four key outcomes of increased productivity, environmental sustainability, improved resilience and an effective functioning supply chain. The Future Agricultural Policy Decisions for Northern Ireland ^{[footnote 129]} informed the development of DAERA’s Farm Support Development Programme that sits alongside the NI Food Strategy Framework with the supply chain component of the Programme acting as a bridge between the two to ensure a cohesive joined up approach.

Scotland’s Food and Drinks industry strategy ^{[footnote 130]} outlines the sector’s aims and ambitions over the next 10 years, including with Scottish Government funding this year to support activity in a number of areas which will support resilience, our food security and supply, including supply chains. The Scottish Government also created a Food Security Unit, following the report of the Short-life Food Security and Supply Taskforce that Scottish Ministers set up together with industry to monitor possible supply chain disruption in the immediate wake of the conflict in Ukraine. These approaches recognise that there are increasing risks to Scotland’s food security, including from climate change. Scotland’s Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 ^{[footnote 131]} provides an over-arching framework for clear, consistent and coherent future Scottish food policy. This represents a fresh approach to food policy and embeds long-term strategic transformation into decision making on food policy at both the national and local levels.

The Welsh Government has a long-term strategy to develop the food and drink manufacturing and processing industry under which it pursues a range of business support programmes which include supply chain development, business networking, and adoption of best practice and standards. All these activities can contribute to improved industry security and are part of a wider strategic agenda for food which the Welsh Government is undertaking across portfolios and is summarised in Food Matters – Wales ^{[footnote 132]}.

Jersey’s Rural Economic Framework 2022 ^{[footnote 133]} sets out policies for the management of the Jersey countryside that embrace the responsibility in the care of our resources with regard to the production and supply of food, water security and the quality of our natural environment. The Island Plan ^{[footnote 134]} safeguards productive agricultural land to increase the security of local food supplies, while supporting the long-term maintenance of the agricultural industry, and diversification of the rural economy.

Isle of Man’s inter-linking Food Security Plan ^{[footnote 135]} and Agricultural Strategy ^{[footnote 136]} were approved in November 2024 and set out the Island’s high-level principles and objectives in relation to food security and the future of the agricultural industry.

Sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production

As part of its manifesto, the government set their commitment for England to move towards a more circular and sustainable economy in which natural resources are used efficiently and waste is minimised. The UK Environment Act 2021 ^{[footnote 137]} provides powers which will allow us to significantly change the way that waste is managed.

The Defra Secretary of State convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy in autumn 2024, and established a taskforce of experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the government will make on a sector-by-sector basis; supporting government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

Reducing and preventing food waste can bring significant environmental benefits to the resources, land, soil and water saved that would have otherwise been wasted. This government will work with business to drive down food waste. We continue to support the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) ^{[footnote 138]} and their work to drive down food surplus and waste in homes and businesses. This includes supporting the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap ^{[footnote 139]} and the key tool to Target Measure and Act on waste.

Our ambitious food strategy will set and deliver clear long-term outcomes that create a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system. This strategy will act to provide more easily accessible healthy food to tackle obesity; helping to give children the best start in life and help adults live longer healthier lives. We will provide further information in 2025 including details of how the process will operate, how stakeholders can engage, and what the milestones will be.

The Northern Ireland Executive published the Northern Ireland ‘Waste Prevention Programme Stopping Waste in its tracks’ ^{[footnote 140]} in 2020, which set out a range of policies and actions focused on waste prevention in line with the waste hierarchy with a focus on reducing waste and supporting the principles of a circular economy. The Department for the Economy (DfE [NI]) has worked in collaboration across both the public and private sector, including a cross-departmental steering group and a Circular Economy Coalition (an advisory panel established in 2021) to drive forward progress on a Circular Economy Strategy. The draft Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland was published for consultation in January 2023. The Strategy which requires Ministerial and NI Executive approval is expected to be finalised and approved later in 2025. It sets out a vision to create an innovative, sustainable and regionally balanced economy focused on People, Planet and Prosperity, where responsible production and consumption is at its core.

Scotland’s Circular Economy Act 2024 ^{[footnote 141]} passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament establishes a legislative framework to support Scotland’s transition to a zero waste and circular economy, significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and modernise and improve waste and recycling services. The Act requires that Scottish Ministers publish a statutory circular economy strategy and make regulations to set circular economy targets, which will build on Scotland’s earlier Making Things Last strategy. ^{[footnote 142]}

The Welsh Government has consulted on a new Circular Economy Strategy ^{[footnote 143]}. This proposed a range of actions which seek to keep resources in use for longer and avoid waste. The final Strategy will be published in the coming months. The Welsh Government is also stimulating innovation through its Circular Economy Funds, awarding around £40m to businesses and publicly funded bodies to date.

Jersey’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap makes a commitment to behavioural change campaigns to consider and reduce all emissions associated with Islanders’ lives. Jersey-specific carbon literacy training has been developed, one specific focus of work is the plan for zero avoidable waste in construction.

Biosphere Isle of Man run sessions for schools on all aspects of sustainability throughout the year and offer support in the formation of student-led eco-councils and sustainability initiatives. The Biosphere IOM Partner programme encourages businesses and other organisations to pledge their commitment to Biosphere objectives – conservation of biodiversity and culture, sustainable human and economic development, and research and learning – aiming to create a ripple effect with those organisations’ employees and clients. Biosphere IOM also oversees the Sustainable Mann initiative, which includes an annual series of workshops covering various aspects of sustainability (e.g. waste and recycling, biodiversity, emissions reduction) and the freely available Sustainable Mann toolkit ^{[footnote 144]} to support organisations on their sustainability journey. Both programmes are provided for free.

Gibraltar is committed to delivering deliver a Materials Sorting Facility to maximize separation and recycling of waste and contribute to the circular economy. The 25 Year Environment Plan, ^{[footnote 145]} which is currently out for public consultation, includes a chapter on healthy and sustainable cities, focusing on active travel and sustainable development.

Health and air pollution

The UK government will introduce a comprehensive Clean Air Strategy to deliver existing statutory targets including a series of interventions to reduce emissions, which supports promotion of the right to health, as referenced in the Paris Agreement.

The UK government’s work to decarbonise transport as set out in section 4a(i) will deliver significant reductions in air pollution and improve people’s health. The UK government continues to work with local authorities to deliver air quality measures to meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and improve the health of their residents.

In relation to emissions from industrial installations, the UK government will continue to use the mechanism of UK Best Available Techniques (BAT) ^{[footnote 146]}, to prevent and reduce emissions to air, water and land. The BAT approach ensures pollution, including by greenhouse gases, is reduced over time by defining the available techniques which are the best for preventing or minimising emissions and impacts on the environment which then shape environmental permits for industry.

DAERA launched a consultation on a Discussion Document on a Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland ^{[footnote 147]} in November 2020 and published the synopsis of responses ^{[footnote 148]} in June 2022. Work is ongoing to develop Northern Ireland’s first Clean Air Strategy taking into account the consultation responses.

The Scottish Government published its Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy ^{[footnote 149]} in 2015 setting out a series of actions for improving air quality across a wide range of policy areas. Following an independent review of the strategy in 2019 ^{[footnote 150]}, which made recommendations for additional action on air pollution, a new strategy, Cleaner Air for Scotland 2: Towards a Better Place for Everyone, was published in July 2021 ^{[footnote 151]} which sets out Scotland’s air quality policy framework for the period 2021 to 2026 with a continued focus on delivery of co-benefits for air pollutant and greenhouse gas reductions.

The Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales sets the Welsh Government’s commitment and long-term ambition to improve air quality, and the steps it will take to deliver this ^{[footnote 152]}.

A long-term vision for Jersey was produced in 2017 through the ‘Island Outcome Indicators’ ^{[footnote 153]} and includes clean air within its statement. In 2019, Guernsey’s Environmental Pollution (Air Pollution) Ordinance ^{[footnote 154]} was enacted, which sets local ambient air quality standards and allows greater environmental regulation of point source emitters including, but not limited to, through licensing prescribed operations, placing limits on the sulphur content of fuels and restricting burning in the open air. Isle of Man’s air quality monitoring increased to include NO2 and SO2 at over 60 sites around the Island, with data published monthly. Isle of Man’s electricity and transport decarbonisation plans are expected to improve air quality which is currently monitored under the 2023-2025 Air Quality Monitoring Plan ^{[footnote 155]}. Gibraltar has a well-established air quality monitoring network ^{[footnote 156]} in place which shows that there has been a steady decline in concentrations ^{[footnote 157]} of all pollutants since its inception. Roll out of the Active Travel Strategy ^{[footnote 158]} is intended to lower pollution levels and improve public health more generally. Gibraltar will publish its 25 Year Environment Plan in early 2025 which sets out a wide range of initiatives in line with the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals ^{[footnote 159]}.

Education and skills

Education is fundamental to tackling climate change, whether through skills for the energy transition, or simply having an informed citizenry - without a strong contribution from education there can be no net zero. In April 2022 in England, the Department for Education published ‘Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems’. ^{[footnote 160]} To emphasise the importance of education as an essential tool to mitigate and adapt to climate change, we are committing to review and update our strategy in 2025. Our more ambitious strategy will maintain our role as a global leader and support the education system to:

Provide a skills system that supports the energy transition and ensures there is a comprehensive suite of training that aligns with national and regional skills needs.
Prepare our children and learners to thrive in a changing world with knowledge, skills and behaviours to understand and develop a connection to the natural world, access green careers and enable them to live, work and succeed in a sustainable future.
Deliver an education estate that is prepared for net zero and resilient to climate change with settings that are designed for sustainability in their construction and operation, providing access to nature and outdoor learning, on a scale that catalyses innovation in the building industry.
Elevate youth voices in developing climate change policy and ensure a role for young people to feedback and challenge our progress.

Since COP26, the UK has played a leading global role, encouraging action through education and greater international collaboration. In partnership with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and Global Partnership for Education, the UK launched the Common Agenda for Climate and Education Declaration at COP28. The declaration has led to over 90 countries committing to targeted actions to adapt, mitigate, and invest in addressing the impact of climate change on education systems.

In June 2023, Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy published ‘Transitioning to a greener economy – a skills perspective’ ^{[footnote 161]}, which focused on investigating the workforce skills required for a transition to an advanced zero emission, indigenous, diverse, energy secure and circular economy in Northern Ireland. Based on the recommendations of the skills audit report, NI have developed a Green Skills Action Plan which outlines the actions required to develop the skills system to meet the future green skills demand. Skill UP is a flexible skills programme that offers a range of free training opportunities to support upskilling and reskilling – including in green technologies.

Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation ^{[footnote 162]} sets out the priorities for Scotland’s economy and shows that a skilled population is fundamental to business productivity and economic prosperity. Scotland’s Purpose and Principles ^{[footnote 163]} sets out the framework for decision making for post-school education, skills and research to ensure that the system is fit for the future, delivering the best outcomes for learners, employers and public investment. Scotland’s Green Industrial Strategy ^{[footnote 164]} identifies areas of strength and opportunity for Scotland to grow globally competitive industries in the transition to net zero and outlines what government and partners will do to support stakeholders to create an enabling environment for investment and growth. Scotland’s refreshed and strengthened Learning for Sustainability Action Plan was published in 2023 setting a vision that by the end of this decade all 3-18 education settings will be sustainable education settings.

The Welsh Government is investing in people to develop the skills needed for a low-carbon, circular economy, including reskilling workers in existing industries. The Welsh Government will seek to exploit the opportunities of this transition to secure greater added value in sectors like energy and housing (timber in construction and modular housing). The new Curriculum for Wales ^{[footnote 165]} for 3–16-year-olds, which commenced roll-out in 2022, prepares Welsh learners for a changing world. One of its four purposes is to develop our young people as ethical, informed citizens, ready to be active citizens of Wales and the world, with building understanding of climate change and sustainability mandatory. In 2023, the Welsh Government published its Net Zero Skills Action Plan ^{[footnote 166]} which provides practical steps towards understanding where and how skills needs will change over time and indicates how the Welsh Government will support this transition.

Jersey’s Future Economy ^{[footnote 167]} work programme sets out actions to develop a more resilient supply chain and increase skills in Jersey. Under the Island’s COP26 Education Pledge a review of climate change across education provision has been completed and the recommendations continue to be implemented.

As part of the Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 of education in Guernsey, raising awareness and learning about climate change, energy efficiency and sustainability are included in the Bailiwick of Guernsey Curriculum.

The Isle of Man’s Retrofit and Low Carbon Skills Analysis ^{[footnote 168]} was produced in 2022. Section 2 of the Isle of Man Climate Change Plan 2022-2027 ^{[footnote 169]} includes a commitment to upskill the construction industry in low carbon heating technologies. A review of the Island’s core curriculum is being undertaken which will consider whether climate and sustainability should be made mandatory content, and two bespoke geography units (climate change and coastal erosion) are being drafted for IOM secondary schools. University College Isle of Man has added sustainability and climate related courses into full-time and apprenticeship programmes. All schools are Biosphere IOM Partners, pledging active commitment to Biosphere IOM values of conservation, sustainable development, and research and learning. Carbon Literacy training is being rolled out across all Manx public bodies.

Gibraltar has amended its Education & Training Act ^{[footnote 170]} to include a commitment to making learning about the environment and climate justice a fundamental principle of education policy. Teachers and learning support staff have been undertaking Carbon Literacy Training in conjunction with the Carbon Literacy Project ^{[footnote 171]} and Gibraltar’s Department of Education is working on a bespoke climate curriculum to sit alongside the national curriculum content for primary education. It is hoped that this will be piloted during the 2025/2026 Academic Year.

b. Specific information applicable to Parties, including regional economic integration organizations and their member States, that have reached an agreement to act jointly under Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement, including the Parties that agreed to act jointly and the terms of the agreement, in accordance with Article 4, paragraphs 16–18, of the Paris Agreement

Not applicable.

c. How the Party’s preparation of its nationally determined contribution has been informed by the outcomes of the Global Stocktake, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 9, of the Paris Agreement

The UK’s 2035 NDC is informed by the UAE Consensus as the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST) ^{[footnote 172]} at COP28. The UK NDC is a 1.5°C aligned, economy-wide absolute emissions reduction target, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories, and is informed by the latest science. The target is estimated to reduce UK emissions by more than 60% between 2019 and 2035. This aligns with the reductions in the IPCC’s global pathways which limit warming to 1.5⁰C with low or no overshoot. See section 6 for more detail on 1.5 alignment and fair share.

Paragraph 28 of the GST sets out global goals, commitments and efforts that countries should contribute to on a range of sectors, including tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power, transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, accelerating zero and low-emission technologies, accelerating and substantially reducing non-CO2 emissions including in particular methane by 2030, accelerating the reduction of emissions from road transport, and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Paragraph 33 calls on Parties to commit to halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030.

The UK is fully committed to the outcomes of Paragraph 28 and 33 of the GST, including contributing toward these global goals, commitments and efforts, and this is reflected in the action taken to achieve our NDC. Much of the UK’s domestic action on these outcomes is set out in section 4a(i) of the ICTU, as well as in relevant sectoral strategies and plans. To summarise, in line with the outcomes of these paragraphs of the GST the UK is:

Committed to contributing toward the global goals to triple renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, and to accelerating efforts globally towards net zero emission energy systems, utilizing zero and low-carbon fuels well before or by around mid-century:
- In December 2024, the UK government published the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. The government will work with the private sector to radically increase the deployment of onshore wind, solar and offshore wind so that electricity generated by renewables and nuclear power will be the backbone of a clean electricity system by 2030. In a typical weather year, the 2030 power system will see clean sources produce at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in total over the whole year, and at least 95% of Great Britain’s generation; reducing the carbon intensity of our generation from 171gCO2e/kWh in 2023 to well below 50gCO2e/kWh in 2030.
- The Warm Homes Plan will incentivise the transition to low carbon heating for homes and buildings and deliver warmer, more energy-efficient homes. As the first steps, the government has committed an initial £3.4 billion towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency over the next three years. To support the most vulnerable with energy efficiency and low carbon heating, the government has announced Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund ^{[footnote 173]}, to support social housing providers and tenants, as well as launched the Warm Homes: Local Grant ^{[footnote 174]} to support low-income homeowners and private tenants.
- To support the installation of low carbon heating, the government is making heat pumps more efficient and easier to install. In addition to removing planning rules which previously required heat pumps to be installed within 1m of a property boundary, the government is consulting on product energy efficiency standards ^{[footnote 175]}. Furthermore, funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme ^{[footnote 176]} will be increased to £295m for 2025/26, supporting households to install low carbon heating. Alongside this, the Clean Heat Market Mechanism ^{[footnote 177]} will be introduced from 1st April 2025, requiring boiler manufacturers to ensure a proportion of their sales are low carbon options.
Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner:
- The UK is committed to clean power by 2030 and we have already made significant progress in transitioning away from fossil fuels. The UK has halved its emissions, having cut them by around 53% between 1990 and 2023. We will consult on not issuing new oil and gas licenses to explore new fields. A just transition is central to the government’s approach, further details on this, and on UK action to transition away from fossil fuels can be seen in section 4a(i) and other relevant sectoral strategies and plans.
Accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power:
- In September 2024, the UK was the first G7 economy to achieve coal power phase out. We will continue to share our experiences internationally, particularly through the UK co-chaired Powering Past Coal Alliance.
- The UK, Germany, France, Canada and the EU commission launched a Call to Action on No New Coal (CTA on NNC) where upcoming national policies and NDCs are developed on the basis of No New Coal given that the science sets out that new coal is not aligned with the Paris Agreement or response to the Global Stocktake. Both developed and developing countries have joined this CTA on NNC and coal pipeline countries are encouraged to join ahead of COP30. This sends an important signal that these countries are open to receiving support to scale up energy transitions and reduce emissions.
Accelerating zero and low-emission technologies:
- On 4th October 2024, the government reached commercial agreement with the private sector and announced up to £21.7bn of available funding over 25 years to launch the UK’s new carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen industries to make the UK an early leader in these two growing global sectors.
Accelerating and substantially reducing non-carbon-dioxide emissions globally, including methane emissions by 2030:
- The UK is taking domestic action across the agriculture, waste, and fossil fuel sectors to reduce methane emissions and deliver on our NDC and Carbon Budgets as set out in section 4a(i). The UK has also taken action internationally to deliver on the Global Methane Pledge – to collectively reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. This includes by sharing knowledge and technical expertise from the UK’s oil and gas decarbonisation and providing funding to support developing countries to adopt cost-effective measures to reduce methane emissions in their fossil fuel sectors.
Accelerating the reduction of emissions from road transport:
- As set out in section 4a(i), the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate ^{[footnote 178]} is the world’s most ambitious national level regulatory framework of its kind, with annual minimum targets for the proportion of new cars and vans sold in the UK from 2024 rising to 80% of cars and 70% of vans by 2030 on a pathway to 100% by 2035. The UK is also committed to phasing out new cars relying solely on internal combustion engines by 2030, and on 24 December 2024 published a consultation seeking views on which type of hybrid car can be sold from 2030-2035 ^{[footnote 179]}.
Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies:
- At COP29, the UK joined the international Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives Including Subsidies (COFFIS) which commits the UK to being transparent on fossil fuel subsidies (FFS) by publishing a national inventory on the UK’s FFS and incentives by COP30. It also commits the UK to contributing to international efforts to develop a ‘comprehensive methodological framework’ for defining a FFS as well as identifying international barriers preventing the phase-out of FFS, and contributing to international dialogue to share lessons learned.
- The UK supports international efforts to reform inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and has been a longstanding supporter of multilateral efforts to promote fossil fuel subsidy reform since these were first proposed in 2009, including through the G7, G20, Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, and the World Trade Organization.
The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to sustain and deepen the political will, action and resolve needed to halt and reverse deforestation and degradation by 2030. -Section 4a(i) sets out detail on the UK’s domestic reforestation and land-use policies.
- Internationally, we are working through multilateral forums, climate finance programming, and partnerships across sectors, as well as leveraging our role as co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership alongside Guyana, to build consensus and to support forest country partners to realise locally led visions of sustainable stewardship that benefit climate, nature, and people. We are working with partners to scale finance for forests and nature from all sources, enhance governance and tackle illegality, and drive progress together with producer, consumer countries and the private sector to decouple agricultural commodity production from deforestation, forest and land degradation.

d. Each Party with a nationally determined contribution under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement that consists of adaptation action and/or economic diversification plans resulting in mitigation co-benefits consistent with Article 4, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement to submit information on:

d(i). How the economic and social consequences of response measures have been considered in developing the nationally determined contribution.

Not applicable. ^{[footnote 180]}

d(ii). Specific projects, measures and activities to be implemented to contribute to mitigation co- benefits, including information on adaptation plans that also yield mitigation co-benefits, which may cover, but are not limited to, key sectors, such as energy, resources, water resources, coastal resources, human settlements and urban planning, agriculture and forestry; and economic diversification actions, which may cover, but are not limited to, sectors such as manufacturing and industry, energy and mining, transport and communication, construction, tourism, real estate, agriculture and fisheries

Not applicable.

Question 5

5. 	Assumptions and methodological approaches, including those for estimating and accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and, as appropriate, removals.

Accepted Answer

a. Assumptions and methodological approaches used for accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and removals corresponding to the Party’s nationally determined contribution, consistent with decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 31, and accounting guidance adopted by the CMA.

The UK accounts for emissions and removals in accordance with methodologies and common metrics assessed by the IPCC and adopted by the CMA.

b. Assumptions and methodological approaches used for accounting for the implementation of policies and measures or strategies used in the nationally determined contribution

Not applicable. ^{[footnote 181]}

c. If applicable, information on how the Party will take into account existing methods and guidance under the Convention to account for anthropogenic emissions and removals, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 14, of the Paris Agreement.

The UK’s current GHG Inventory is submitted in accordance with decision 24/CP.19 and utilises the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, 2013 IPCC Kyoto Protocol Supplement, and 2013 IPCC Wetlands Supplement.

d. IPCC methodologies and metrics used for estimating anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and removals.

IPCC methodologies:

2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands (where indicated in the UK NIR).

2019 Refinements to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (where indicated in the UK NIR).

IPCC metrics:

100-year GWPs listed in table 8.A.1 of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5).

e. Sector, category, or activity specific assumptions, methodologies and approaches consistent with IPCC guidance, including, as applicable:

e(i). Approach to addressing emissions and subsequent removals from natural disturbances on managed lands

All emissions and removals reported in the UK GHG Inventory are included in the NDC, with no specific approach to exclude emissions from natural disturbances.

e(ii). Approach used to account for emissions and removals from harvested wood products

The UK reflects emissions and removals resulting from changes in the carbon pool of harvested wood products using a production approach.

e(iii). Approach used to address the effects of age-class structure in forests

Forest carbon stock changes and fluxes are modelled by CARBINE, the Forest Research Forest carbon stock and carbon balance model. In that model, growth rates of forests are taken into account via an expansion factor when determining the effects of tree-age.

f. Other assumptions and methodological approaches used for understanding the nationally determined contribution and, estimating corresponding emissions and removals, including:

f(i). How the reference indicators, baseline(s) and/or reference level(s), including, sector-, category- or activity-specific reference levels, are constructed, including, for example, key parameters, assumptions, definitions, methodologies, data sources and models used

No other assumptions or methodological approaches have been used in the construction of the reference indicator.

f(ii). For Parties with nationally determined contributions that contain non-greenhouse-gas components, information on assumptions and methodological approaches used in relation to those components, as applicable

Not applicable.

f(iii). For climate forcers included in nationally determined contributions not covered by IPCC guidelines, information on how the climate forcers are estimated

Not applicable.

f(iv). Further technical information, as necessary

Not applicable.

g. The intention to use voluntary cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

The UK does not currently intend to use cooperative approaches that involve the use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement towards its NDC.

While the UK intends to meet its NDC through domestic emissions reductions and removals, it reserves the right to use cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Such cooperative approaches may include international emissions reductions or removals, such as Article 6.4 Emissions Reductions or those which result from linking the UK Emissions Trading System to another emissions trading scheme. If the UK were to use cooperative approaches, such use would be accounted for in accordance with relevant decisions adopted by the CMA.

Question 6

6. 	How the Party considers that its NDC is fair and ambitious in the light of its national circumstances

Accepted Answer

a. How the Party considers that its NDC is fair and ambitious in the light of its national circumstances

The UK’s 2035 NDC is a fair and ambitious contribution to global action on climate change. The target is consistent with many ‘economically efficient’ or cost-effective 1.5°C pathway estimates provided by independent external organisations and was broadly welcomed by business and civil society stakeholders in the UK and internationally.

In determining the target level, DESNZ led work across UK government departments to identify the UK’s highest possible ambition, taking account of a range of factors including the temperature goal and principle of equity in the Paris Agreement, the latest available science, the Global Stocktake, robust analysis of domestic decarbonisation potential, the UK’s legally binding net zero commitment and advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC). In its advice to government on the UK 2035 target in October 2024, the Climate Change Committee said that a target of 81% “makes a credible contribution towards limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in line with the Global Stocktake and Paris Agreement”. The CCC also reiterated that “the UK NDC is a steppingstone on an ambitious and deliverable pathway to Net Zero GHGs by 2050 – ahead of when global Net Zero is reached in IPCC scenarios that limit warming to close to 1.5⁰C”. ^{[footnote 182]}

b. Fairness considerations, including reflecting on equity

The UK’s NDC target was determined taking account of the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, the Global Stocktake and the principles of equity and “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances”. The NDC is also on the trajectory to UK net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which the Climate Change Committee and other independent external commentators consider to be aligned with a least-cost global pathway to keep global temperature rise below 1.5⁰C.

There is no international consensus on which indicators should be used, and so the UK considered a range of internationally recognised effort sharing metrics and took into account other independent assessments of the level of ambition of the UK’s NDC.

In its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Working Group III, the IPCC highlighted global emissions reductions between 2019 and 2035, with the median 1.5ºC pathway showing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 60% by 2035 on 2019 levels. The UK’s NDC target is currently estimated to reduce UK emissions by more than 60% between 2019 and 2035.

Based on latest estimates, the target would imply UK emissions per person in 2035 would be 2.1tCO2e which is in line with estimates for the global average implied by the IPCC’s median pathways consistent with limiting warming to 1.5⁰C. Although this figure excludes emissions from international aviation and shipping, advice from the CCC shows that UK per capita emissions would remain in line with the required global average even when accounting for these emissions.

c. How the Party has addressed Article 4, paragraph 3 of the Paris Agreement

The UK’s NDC target was determined taking account of the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, the Global Stocktake and the principles of equity and “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances”.

The UK government has a well-established process involving all relevant departments to regularly review domestic greenhouse gas abatement potential, as part of the framework to deliver on carbon budgets and net zero under the Climate Change Act. The UK’s 2035 NDC target to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels represents our highest possible ambition and is aligned with limiting warming to 1.5°C. In its guidance, published on 26 October, the CCC advised that this target is our highest possible ambition and that it represents a clear progression beyond the UK’s 2030 NDC commitment.

d. How the Party has addressed Article 4, paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement

The UK’s NDC is an economy-wide absolute emissions reduction target in compliance with Article 4.4 of the Paris Agreement. The UK recognises the importance of supporting developing country parties in implementing the Paris Agreement. Through the NDC Partnership, the UK is working with international partners to support developing countries to develop and strengthen their NDCs. Based on national circumstances, NDC Partnership members are supporting developing countries to move towards economy-wide emission reduction targets. The UK is a core funder of the NDC Partnership and has committed £25m to support up to 40 countries to strengthen the ambition and quality of their NDCs ahead of COP30, in line with the core principles of the Paris Agreement.

The NDC Partnership also supports developing countries to develop and strengthen their planning, policies and capacity for NDC implementation. This includes support for the development of national NDC implementation and investment plans. Countries’ NDC plans inform the UK’s international climate finance, supporting alignment of development assistance with countries’ priorities.

The UK is committed to delivering climate finance to keep 1.5°C alive in line with our international commitments. This is why we are honouring the existing commitment to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026 including at least £3bn on nature, from which £1.5bn will be dedicated to protecting and restoring forests. We will also treble our finance for adaptation to £1.5bn in 2025. The Spending Review published in Autumn 2024 confirmed sufficient funds were available to ensure the £11.6bn target can be achieved. The second phase of our Spending Review for budgets from 26/27 onwards is expected to conclude in Spring 2026 and will include our climate finance spending plans over this period.

From April 2011 to March 2024, it is estimated that the UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) programmes have reduced or avoided 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (equivalent to over a quarter of the emissions produced by the UK in 2022 ^{[footnote 183]}) and expect to reduce or avoid 1.4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of ICF programmes.

The UK submitted its third Biennial Finance Communication ^{[footnote 184]} in December 2024.

e. How the Party has addressed Article 4, paragraph 6, of the Paris Agreement

Not applicable.

Question 7

7.  How the nationally determined contribution contributes towards achieving the objective of the Convention as set out in its Article 2

Accepted Answer

a. How the nationally determined contribution contributes towards achieving the objective of the Convention as set out in its Article 2

The UK’s NDC represents the UK’s contribution to the objectives of Article 2 of the Convention to stabilise GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Sections 4 and 6 detail the UK’s mitigation ambition that will contribute to achieving Article 2 of the Convention.

b. How the nationally determined contribution contributes towards Article 2, paragraph 1(a), and Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Paris Agreement

See Section 4 and 6 on the UK’s legislated commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and how the UK’s NDC contributes to that goal.

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Information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding (ICTU)

1. Quantified information on the reference point

2. Time frame

3. Scope and coverage

International Aviation and Shipping emissions (IAS)

4. Planning processes

Domestic institutional arrangements

Local government

Devolved governments

Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories

Planning process

Policies and measures

Energy (including transport)

Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU)

Agriculture

Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)

Waste

Trade

International commitments

Devolved governments’ policies and measures

Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories’ policies and measures

Just Transition

Gender-responsive action

Public Participation

Youth and Children

Devolved government’s public participation

Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories public participation

Businesses

Civil Society

Biodiversity and nature

Ocean and marine environment

Food security

Sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production

Health and air pollution

Education and skills

5. Assumptions and methodological approaches, including those for estimating and accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and, as appropriate, removals.

6. How the Party considers that its NDC is fair and ambitious in the light of its national circumstances

7. How the nationally determined contribution contributes towards achieving the objective of the Convention as set out in its Article 2

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