UK 2035 NDC – Quick-Review Notes

Policy paper outlines UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for $2035$ under the Paris Agreement, detailing ambitious targets and robust policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
© Crown copyright, Open Government Licence; the document is publicly available online, ensuring transparency and accessibility.
Target: The UK aims to cut all greenhouse gases (GHG) by at least $81\%$ by $2035$ compared to $1990$ levels, excluding International Aviation and Shipping (IAS) emissions. This ambitious target was formally announced at COP $29$ . The target aligns directly with the independent advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and is consistent with the legally binding Carbon Budget $6$ targets. Key financial commitments include £ ${8.3}\,\text{billion}$ for the Great British Energy plan and £ ${3.4}\,\text{billion}$ for the Warm Homes initiative, alongside implementing the Clean Power $2030$ Action Plan.
The UK is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by $2050$ . As part of this commitment, coal power generation is being phased out, with a complete ban implemented by September $2024$ . Internationally, the UK launched the Global Clean Power Alliance at COP $29$ and has pledged £ ${11.6}\,\text{billion}$ in International Climate Finance (ICF) by $2025/26$ , which includes a significant £ ${3}\,\text{billion}$ specifically allocated for nature-based solutions.
Base year for calculating emissions reductions are $1990$ for carbon dioxide (CO $2$ ), methane (CH $4$ ), and nitrous oxide (N $2$ O), and $1995$ for F-gases (HFCs, PFCs, $SF6$ , NF $3$ ). Based on these baselines, the estimated base emissions were $817.1\,\text{MtCO}2e$ (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent). The challenging target level for $2035$ is set at $155.3\,\text{MtCO}_2e$ , reflecting the deep decarbonisation required.
Inventory data for emissions are revised annually to ensure accuracy and reflect the latest scientific understanding. The UK’s NDC progress will be comprehensively assessed using the $2037$ national inventory, providing a clear post-target evaluation. The implementation window for policies and measures to achieve the NDC target spans from $2031$ to $2035$ , with $2035$ being the single-year target.
The scope of the NDC is economy-wide, covering all sectors within the UK. The gases covered include carbon dioxide (CO $2$ ), methane (CH $4$ ), nitrous oxide (N $2$ O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF $6$ ), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF $_3$ ). Geographically, the NDC extends to the UK, its Crown Dependencies, and selected Overseas Territories. Covered sectors include Energy, Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), Agriculture, Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), and Waste. International Aviation and Shipping (IAS) emissions are explicitly excluded from the national target, consistent with international reporting guidelines.
No specific information regarding mitigation co-benefits or economic impact modelling is required for this NDC submission. Domestic planning and implementation are governed by the Climate Change Act $2008$ , which establishes a legal framework for emissions reductions. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) leads national climate policy, with independent advice provided by the Climate Change Committee (CCC).
Carbon budgets, which set legally binding emissions limits for five-year periods, are typically set $12$ years in advance to provide long-term certainty. Carbon Budget $7$ (CB $7$ ) is due to be set in $2026$ . The Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP $3$ ) outlines the UK's strategy for adapting to climate change impacts and covers the period from $2023$ to $2028$ .
Local authorities and Devolved Administrations play crucial roles in climate action. This includes the CHAMP (Cities and Regions for Net Zero) pledge, the Urban Transition Mission aimed at accelerating decarbonisation in cities, and the ambition for Core Cities across the UK to achieve net-zero sooner than the national $2050$ target.
Devolved Administrations have their own ambitious targets: Northern Ireland aims for a $77\%$ reduction by $2040$ ; Scotland is committed to achieving net-zero by $2045$ ; and Wales targets a $63\%$ reduction by $2030$ .
The UK’s comprehensive Net Zero Strategy serves as its Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) under the Paris Agreement. An updated strategy is forthcoming to reflect evolving policies and ambition.
Energy: The Clean Power $2030$ plan aims to deliver a fully decarbonised, reliable, and affordable electricity system by $2035$ . The Warm Homes Plan supports energy efficiency upgrades in homes. The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate sets ambitious targets for new car sales to be $80\%$ ZEVs by $2030$ and new van sales to be $70\%$ ZEVs by $2030$ .
Industry: A new industrial decarbonisation strategy is expected in $2026$ . Significant investment of £ ${21.7}\,\text{billion}$ is allocated for Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) and hydrogen projects to decarbonise heavy industry.
Agriculture: Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes incentivise sustainable farming practices and emissions reductions. The Methane Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in $2022$ demonstrates commitment to addressing agricultural methane emissions.
LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry): Ambitious targets include increasing woodland cover to at least $16.5\%$ in England by $2050$ . There's also a strong focus on restoring degraded peatlands, which are significant carbon sinks. A new Tree Taskforce was established in $2024$ to accelerate tree planting efforts.
Waste: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers is planned for $2027$ . Simpler Recycling initiatives will be rolled out between $2025$ and $2026$ to standardise household recycling. The Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) for packaging is set to begin in $2025$ .
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) cap has been tightened considerably to drive deeper emissions reductions, and its scope will be expanded to include the maritime sector in $2026$ and Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities in $2028$ . Furthermore, a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will be introduced starting $2027$ to prevent carbon leakage and ensure a level playing field for domestic industries.
International actions: The UK has pledged to support a global target of $1500\,\text{GW}$ of energy storage and grids by $2030$ . The UK will also join the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action (COFFIS) and has committed £ ${5}\,\text{million}$ to a global methane fund.
Devolved additional plans: Northern Ireland aims to plant $9,000\,\text{hectares}$ of new forestry by $2030$ . Scotland has detailed strategies for decarbonising Heat in Buildings. Wales’s Net Zero Wales plan includes $123$ specific policies to achieve its decarbonisation targets.
Just Transition: The Office for Clean Energy Jobs has been established to support workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuels. Skills England and comprehensive apprenticeships reform are in place to ensure a skilled green workforce.
Gender-responsive action: The UK endorses the COP $29$ Gender Pledge, demonstrating commitment to gender equality in climate action. It also actively supports the Equal by $30$ initiative and participates in the IEA Gender Council to promote women's participation in the energy sector.
The UK’s Net Zero Public Participation Strategy is due in $2025$ , aiming to engage citizens in climate action. The NDC document itself will be formally laid before Parliament, ensuring democratic oversight and accountability.
Youth engagement: The UK has endorsed the Universal Youth Clause, committing to involve young people in climate policy. A review of the Department for Education (DfE) Sustainability Strategy is scheduled for $2025$ to further integrate climate education into the curriculum.
Devolved public engagement: Northern Ireland is conducting a public consultation on its climate plans. Scotland has its public engagement strategy for climate change covering $2021$ – $2026$ , and Wales has a similar framework for $2022$ – $2026$ , fostering broad societal involvement.
Business & civil society: The Net Zero Council has been relaunched to strengthen collaboration between government, business, and civil society on climate action. The UK Business Climate Hub actively aids Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in their decarbonisation efforts.
National circumstances are detailed in the UK Biennial Transparency Report, providing context for the NDC. The UK reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an integrated framework for sustainable development.
The Environment Act $2021$ is a cornerstone of UK environmental policy. It mandates the development of an Environmental Improvement Plan and establishes legally binding targets for various environmental indicators.
Biodiversity: A key target is to protect $30\%$ of land and sea areas by $2030$ , contributing to global biodiversity efforts. The UK National Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets were submitted in $2024$ .
Marine: Efforts focus on maintaining clean and healthy seas. The UK is also building a blue carbon evidence partnership to enhance understanding and protection of marine carbon sinks.
Fisheries: The climate objective is integrated into the Fisheries Act. The UK Seafood Fund provides support for the adoption of more efficient engines in fishing vessels, reducing their carbon footprint.
Northern Ireland’s Marine Plan is expected to be adopted in $2025$ . A comprehensive Blue Carbon Action Plan for NI is also slated for completion by March $2025$ .
Food security: The UK Food Security Report, updated in $2024$ , provides a detailed assessment of national food resilience. The UK has endorsed the COP $28$ declaration on sustainable agriculture, committing to food systems transformation.
Circular economy: A dedicated Strategy Taskforce has been established for England to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Food waste reduction efforts are supported through initiatives led by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme).
Northern Ireland has a draft Circular Economy Strategy in development. Scotland’s Circular Economy (Scotland) Act was passed in $2024$ , providing a strong legislative framework. A comprehensive circular economy strategy for Wales is also forthcoming.
Clean Air: An updated UK Clean Air Strategy is upcoming. A new industrial Best Available Techniques (BAT) framework is being introduced to minimise industrial air pollution. Devolved administrations also have their own clean-air plans tailored to regional needs.
Education & skills: A review of the UK’s education strategy for sustainability is scheduled for $2025$ . Green skills action plans are being developed and implemented in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to ensure the workforce has the necessary competencies for a green economy.
Jersey, the Isle of Man, and Gibraltar are actively integrating climate change education into their curricula. Carbon Literacy training is being rolled out across various sectors to raise awareness and promote low-carbon behaviours.
Article $6$ : The UK is currently not planning to use Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under Article $6$ of the Paris Agreement but reserves the right to do so in the future if deemed necessary.
Global Stocktake (GST) outcomes: The UK’s NDC aligns with the outcomes of the GST, specifically the call for global emissions to be cut by over $60\%$ relative to $2019$ levels by $2035$ , ensuring consistency with IPCC $1.5^{\circ}\text{C}$ pathways.
The Clean Power $2030$ plan targets an electricity grid intensity of less than or equal to $50\,\text{gCO}_2e/\text{kWh}$ in $2030$ . Significant support for heat pump deployment is provided through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Clean Heat Market Mechanism.
Just transition away from fossil fuels: The government is consulting on whether to introduce a presumption against new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. The £ ${21.7}\,\text{billion}$ investment in CCUS aims to decarbonise existing industrial facilities and create new green jobs.
Forestry: The UK co-chairs the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership, advocating for global action. It is committed to halting and reversing deforestation by $2030$ .
No information on response measures (impacts of NDC implementation on other countries) is required for this NDC submission.
Accounting: The UK adheres to IPCC $2006$ guidelines for national GHG inventories, with later supplements integrated where applicable. Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR $5$ ) are used for calculating CO $_2$ equivalent emissions.
No Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) are currently planned for use, but any future use would strictly follow the rules and procedures established under the CMA (Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement).
Fairness: By $2035$ , the UK’s per-capita emissions are projected to reach $2.1\,\text{tCO}_2e$ (excluding IAS), which is broadly consistent with global $1.5^{\circ}\text{C}$ pathways, demonstrating a fair contribution to global decarbonisation.
The UK’s NDC demonstrates clear progression beyond its $2030$ NDC and reflects the highest possible ambition, as consistently advised by the Climate Change Committee (CCC).
The UK has committed £ ${11.6}\,\text{billion}$ in International Climate Finance (ICF) for the period $2021$ – $2026$ . This includes a significant trebling of adaptation finance to £ ${1.5}\,\text{billion}$ specifically for $2025$ alone.
Extensive references list includes detailed CCC advice, finance communications, and other supporting documents.
Legislative references for devolved and sectoral acts ensure legal compliance and accountability across the UK.
Key sector strategies: Includes details on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) Plan, Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), and the Methane Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Specific details on the Tree Taskforce, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) consultation response, and the energy storage pledge.
Additional international declarations and initiatives related to ZEVs and Product Efficiency.
Public engagement and nature strategies specific to Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
Criteria for the $30\text{by}30$ target (protecting $30\%$ of land and sea), Environmental Improvement Plans, and various nature/biodiversity strategies.
Comprehensive marine and coastal legislations and strategies across the UK and its devolved regions.
Frameworks for food and agriculture policies specific to devolved regions and Overseas Territories.
Waste and circular economy acts, strategies, toolkits, including Gibraltar’s plan.
Clean air ordinances, monitoring plans, and active travel strategies for promoting sustainable transport.
Detailed skills plans: Northern Ireland’s green skills strategy, Scotland’s industrial strategy, and Wales’s Net Zero Skills plan.
Heat policy instruments: Boiler Upgrade Scheme and product standards to promote energy-efficient heating solutions.
The document is published under the Open Government Licence v $3.0$ (OGL).