Influential new report from Sandbag claims policies already in place to deliver 50 per cent cut in emissions by 2030, paving the way for increased ambition.
Carbon emissions have hit a record high, most of the world’s energy systems have made “almost no progress” in transitioning to greener technologies, and the UK could be heading straight for a ‘no deal’ Brexit – an outcome many fear would prime the country for rapid environmental deregulation.
So you could probably do with some good news right about now. Thankfully that comes this week from the team at climate policy NGO Sandbag, which yesterday released a new report revealing the EU is on track to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, far exceeding official targets.
According to Sandbag’s analysis, Europe already has the policies in place to deliver a 50 per cent emissions cut by 2030, when actions such as the coal phase out and major new policy initiatives like the Clean Energy Package are taken into account.
The power sector is an important driver of the carbon cuts, Sandbag explained, with the phase-down of coal power and rollout of renewables responsible for half of the EU’s emissions cuts to 2030.
