The CCC also advises against using hydrogen for residential heating, suggesting that transitioning to heat pumps could save households approximately £700 annually in heating and motoring costs.

The government is urged to assist low-income households in covering the costs of transitioning to heat pumps and to ensure that all new heating systems are low carbon by 2035.

Aviation, currently the sixth largest source of U.K. emissions, is projected to become the largest by 2040, necessitating advancements in technology and a shift to sustainable aviation fuels to mitigate emissions.

Infrastructure improvements are crucial, with the report emphasizing the need to promote public transport, cycling, and walking as alternatives to driving.

Public support for climate action remains strong, as evidenced by a citizens’ panel expressing a willingness to engage in climate initiatives and seek clarity from politicians.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has released its Seventh Carbon Budget, stating that the U.K. must achieve an 87% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2040.

To meet this ambitious target, the CCC emphasizes that one-third of the emissions reductions must come from households adopting low-carbon technologies, including electric vehicles and heat pumps, as well as lifestyle changes like reducing meat and dairy consumption.

However, the transition to heat pumps faces significant challenges, particularly due to high upfront costs, which make it difficult for lower-income households to access these technologies, despite available government subsidies.

The CCC supports heat pumps as the primary alternative to gas boilers, aiming for an increase in installations from 60,000 in 2023 to nearly 450,000 by 2030 and around 1.5 million by 2035.

While homeowners will not be required to replace gas boilers until they reach the end of their lifespan, new gas boilers will be banned after 2035.

Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the CCC, highlighted that investments in efficient technologies will yield economic savings by the early 2040s, ultimately benefiting both consumers and the economy.

The CCC, established under the Climate Change Act 2008, provides independent advice to the U.K. government on emissions targets and climate adaptation.