The British government has announced a new target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 87 percent from 1990 levels during the 2038–2042 period as part of its long-term strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The proposed target, outlined under the country’s seventh Carbon Budget, would limit greenhouse gas emissions to 535 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2eq) between 2038 and 2042.

According to the UK government, the new target builds on existing climate commitments and forms part of the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, which sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the economy.

The previous Carbon Budget targeted an 81 percent reduction in emissions from 1990 levels and sought to fully decarbonise the country’s electricity generation mix.

Government officials say the revised target responds to growing concerns over rising global temperatures and energy security challenges, including recent increases in energy prices linked to supply disruptions in the Middle East and continued volatility in global fossil fuel markets following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The government noted that the target is based on evidence-driven projections and a consumer-led approach to the adoption of clean energy technologies such as solar power, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and electric vehicles (EVs).

According to the announcement, the new emissions reduction goal is aligned with the Paris Agreement objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and is expected to maximise the economic and environmental benefits of the clean energy transition.

The UK government maintains that accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies will strengthen energy security, reduce emissions and support sustainable economic growth in the coming decades.