Blog
8 July 2025
Governments around the world are ramping up efforts to tackle climate change, with reaching net-zero emissions at the heart of these plans. In the UK, a legally binding commitment to achieve net zero by 2050 is shaping everything from energy policy to industrial investment. Successive governments have rolled out a wide range of initiatives and technologies to keep the country on track to meet its targets.
What Does Net Zero Actually Mean?
Put simply, net zero means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases we release with the amount we remove from the atmosphere. The goal is to stop adding, overall, additional CO₂ and other greenhouse gases that drive climate change. Getting there requires not only cutting emissions across sectors like energy, transport, and industry but also investing in ways to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere, such as through carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The UK’s Roadmap to Net Zero
To meet its 2050 target, the UK has laid out a series of policies and projects designed to cut carbon emissions and build a greener economy. Some of the key pillars of the UK net zero strategy include:
Why is Carbon Capture so Important?
While cutting emissions at the source is critical, some industries, like steel, cement, and chemicals are hard to decarbonise completely. That’s where carbon capture comes in. By trapping CO₂ before it reaches the atmosphere, these technologies help tackle emissions that are otherwise tough to eliminate.
Different types of carbon capture
There are also other more novel forms of carbon capture, such as Enhanced Rock Weathering and Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement.
Carbon Capture Projects Across the UK
The UK is putting serious investment into CCS projects to clean up its biggest industrial hubs. Some standout initiatives include:
UK Net Zero Progress: Are We on Track?
According to the Climate Change Committee's Progress in Reducing Emissions – 2025 Report to Parliament (June 2025), the UK has made measurable progress on its path to Net Zero but remains off track in several key areas.
As of 2024, UK greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 50.4% from 1990 levels, driven largely by the decarbonisation of electricity supply – including biomass plants like Evero, and the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power station. However, only 61% of the emissions cuts needed to meet the 2030 target are backed by credible or moderately risky plans, with the remaining 39% either high risk or lacking detail. Rapid progress is now required in sectors like buildings, transport, and industry, where electrification must replace fossil fuels.
With strong government backing and constant innovation, CCS will play a pivotal role in helping the UK meet its net zero target, all while supporting economic growth and keeping the lights on.
By trapping CO₂ before it reaches the atmosphere, these technologies help tackle emissions that are otherwise tough to eliminate.