© Photo by: Alastair Johnstone / Climate Visuals
Words by Bella Zanin, Knowledge Exchange Associate
The CCC’s 2026 ‘Progress in reducing emissions’ report reveals that the UK is heading in the right direction on climate action – but not fast enough. CAST examines what the latest recommendations from the Government’s climate advisors mean for the human side of the clean energy transition.
It feels ironic, in a dystopian kind of way, that the Climate Change Committee (CCC) should publish its annual review of how well the UK is tackling climate change while the nation swelters in a record-breaking heatwave. As schools close, transport networks fail and the Met Office warns of risks to health and life, we are reminded of the kind of future we are trying to avoid. And why rapidly bringing down emissions is so critical.
The good news is: we’re making some progress. The CCC’s new report highlights that UK emissions have halved since 1990, dropping by 1.8% in 2025. We are seeing record amounts of renewable energy capacity being contracted; continued growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales and heat pump installations; and peatland restoration up by 26%.
All of this is happening despite fracturing political consensus on climate action and the weaponisation of ‘net zero’. British people still care about tackling climate change and support solutions such as expanding renewable energy generation, while market forces mean that buying an EV is increasingly a smart financial choice, rather than an ideological one. In some areas, it seems, party politics is losing its grip on climate action.
However – as ever – there are things we could be doing better. The CCC identifies several areas where we need to accelerate progress in order to meet climate goals. In this article, we explore their significance in terms of the UK public’s engagement with climate action.
Electrification
The Government’s official climate advisors make it clear that further and faster electrification of the UK’s energy system is needed, with a focus on EVs, heat pumps and industrial energy. The headline recommendations to the Government are to make electricity cheaper and reduce the ‘hassle’ around electric technologies (for example, by installing more on-street EV charge points).
Such recommendations are crucial in terms of public engagement with the net zero transition. Research by CAST and others consistently finds that people are more willing to make low-carbon choices when these are affordable, convenient and accessible, with fears about the costs of climate policies being particularly widespread. But more than that, when leaders respond meaningfully to people’s concerns, it builds trust. So, as well as making electric technology more affordable, the Government should make it clear that they have listened to people’s views and needs and acted on them.
Energy security
The CCC’s analysis shows that electrification is not only crucial in reducing emissions, but also in protecting us from price shocks in volatile international fossil fuel markets, most recently demonstrated by the Iran war. According to the CCC, since the start of the conflict, households with gas boilers and petrol or diesel cars have seen energy bills rise almost four times more than those with heat pumps and EVs.
CAST research underscores the importance of maximising and communicating the wider (non-environmental) benefits of climate solutions. Therefore, when talking about the transition to renewables, policymakers and practitioners would be wise to emphasise the links to enhanced energy independence and security.
Food and flying
Emissions cuts within agriculture and aviation are not achievable by switching to electric or alternative technologies alone. Agricultural emissions partly derive from livestock, fertilisers and land use, and sustainable aviation fuel is unlikely to ever replace jet fuel without serious trade-offs. Decarbonising these sectors will therefore require behavioural changes such as reduced meat consumption and reduced air miles. Here, public engagement that pays attention to fairness and freedom of choice is even more critical.
The UK Government’s recently published Public Participation Plan on climate change – ‘Energising Britain’ – signals a growing recognition that climate policy cannot simply be delivered to the public, it should be developed with them. As the CCC highlights, this was a positive step towards increasing British people’s involvement with climate solutions. However, the plan currently lacks information on implementation and delivery. The devil will be in the detail.
The missing piece of climate progress
The latest CCC assessment could be read as a report card on technologies, policies and infrastructure. But viewed through a social science lens, it tells another story. What’s clear throughout the analysis is that people are central to the UK’s progress in reducing emissions. It is consumers who are choosing to buy EVs and heat pumps; it is business leaders who are choosing to switch their factories to renewable electricity; it is individuals and families who are choosing to eat less meat. Transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient society is no longer primarily a technical challenge. It is a social, political and psychological one.
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