The renewables sector has given strong support to the UK’s proposals to commit the country to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Danish offshore wind developer Orsted said the UK government has taken a “historic step in the fight against climate change”.
“As the first major economy to legislate for a net zero target, the UK shows a bold commitment to a cleaner and greener future,” said UK director Matthew Wright.
“As the global leader in offshore wind, with 3.7GW already in operation in the UK, we are proud to be leading the country’s green transformation. Let’s create a world that runs entirely on green energy,” he said.
ScottishPower chief executive Keith Anderson (pictured) said: “The UK now has a very clear commitment to reduce carbon emissions to net zero.
“To deliver this race to zero we will double the amount of electricity we use, therefore, we need to quadruple the amount of renewable energy we make.
“That’s going to require bold innovation alongside market and regulatory frameworks that encourage significant and sustained investment.”
Trade association RenewableUK said the UK’s decision to set a legally-binding net zero target reflected public opinion in support of the low carbon economy and more action on using renewables.
“Climate change is an existential challenge with a ticking clock – and the science shows we need to make big changes to our economy,” said deputy chief executive Emma Pinchbeck.
“It’s right to speed up our action to reflect the truth of the risks,” she added.
Pinchbeck called on the government to use “every tool in the box” to tackle climate change, including onshore wind, wave and tidal energy.
“We might be afraid of the impacts of climate change, but the UK’s world-class renewables industry, including our global lead in offshore wind, shows that we should not be afraid of investing in a green economy: the returns to the UK of this leadership on net zero will be huge,” she said.
The Solar Trade Association said a 2050 net-zero goal is a “vital step in tackling the climate emergency” but called on the government to “remove barriers that have needlessly slowed progress.”
“Solar and wind are now the lowest cost forms of power generation in the UK, yet there is no route to market and government is continuing to subsidise the fossil fuels it is aiming to phase out,” added chief executive Chris Hewett.
John Laing Environmental Assets Group said the target provides a “compelling opportunity for investors to take advantage of the secular move towards large scale, commercialised environmental infrastructure”.
The company’s investment adviser Chris Holmes said: “The acceleration to commercialise and scale the production of green energy is essential if we want to deliver a zero-greenhouse gas world in an affordable and realistic way within this timeframe.”
The Global Wind Energy Council said the target adds “much-needed ambition and urgency to climate change policy” and urged other nations to follow the UK’s lead.
“The UK has been an important and leading voice in international climate policy and we encourage other countries to follow the example for the benefit of the planet and the investment opportunities on offer,” said chief executive Ben Backwell.