The UK Path and the Role of NETs to Achieve Decarbonisation

Abstract

The UK is one of the industrialised countries that committed to reducing its basket of greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. Provisional figures in the latest inventory show a significant decrease in CO2 emissions since 1990. This seems to indicate that the United Kingdom (UK) is on a steady transition towards a low-carbon economy. However, the ambitious goal of reducing its emissions to 80% by 2050 seems to be very difficult to accomplish. The objective of this chapter is to present a review of the current state of the greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and describe what factors are influencing the recent decline of CO2 levels. We also provide a general overview of the strategies leading to the transition into a low-carbon economy and the sectors contributing to this process. Finally, we explore whether negative emissions technologies are ready for implementation in UK’s decarbonisation path.