The United Kingdom (UK) has adopted a law requiring to bring all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2050. This means that the UK will continue to cut its GHG emissions and that residual emissions will have to be balanced by schemes to offset an equivalent amount of GHG, such as planting trees or using technology like carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The new law amends the Climate Change Act 2008, which had set a legally binding GHG emissions reduction target of at least 80% by 2050 (1990 as baseline). The fifth carbon budget (2016) sets a 57% GHG emissions reduction target by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels).
In September 2018, the Scottish government unveiled an ambitious climate change plan targeting a 66% cut in GHG emissions by 2032, compared to 1990 (49% achieved in 2016). In May 2019, it set a legally binding target of net-zero GHG emissions by 2045 at the latest.