What is net zero and is the UK on track to achieve it?

Net zero means balancing greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere with gases removed, so human activity no longer increases their overall amount. It matters because these gases drive global warming and its effects, including heatwaves, extreme weather and rising seas; the article says climate change made the UK’s record-hot summer in 2026 130 times more likely, according to the Met Office. Political agreement on the UK’s policies has weakened, with the Conservatives and Reform describing them as too difficult and expensive.

The UK’s emissions produced within the country were provisionally 54% below 1990 levels in 2025, but this measure excludes emissions from imported goods. The legal target, set in 2019, is net zero by 2050; policies include expanding wind and solar power, ending sales of new fully petrol and diesel cars by 2030, supporting heat pumps and investing in carbon capture. The Climate Change Committee warned in June that progress was too slow, while the government says it remains committed; recent decisions on gas, investment, car targets and Heathrow have prompted concern.