By Abbas Nazil
Scientists from Imperial College London have warned that failure by the United Kingdom to meet its Net Zero emissions target by 2050 will lead to severe and costly climate consequences, including rising deaths from extreme heat and worsening environmental damage.
Professor Joeri Rogelj, Director of Research at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, said the 2050 Net Zero target is essential to protecting lives and livelihoods.
He explained that continued emissions of greenhouse gases would intensify global heating, warning that achieving the target is not just symbolic but a necessary step to set the pace and direction of a sustainable transition.
The warning follows a summer of record-breaking heat across Europe that caused thousands of deaths, including hundreds in England and Wales.
Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who introduced the Net Zero target into law in 2019, said the move had inspired global climate action.
She emphasized that the policy is crucial for the planet’s future, stressing that failing to act on climate change would impose far higher economic and social costs.
According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, reaching Net Zero would cost significantly less than inaction, as renewable energy technologies have become cheaper and more efficient.
Emeritus Professor Joanna Haigh, former Co-Director of the Grantham Institute, described growing political opposition to Net Zero as alarming.
She warned that unless emissions are drastically reduced, the UK will face worsening climate disasters and human suffering.
Haigh reiterated that “the science on Net Zero hasn’t changed,” emphasizing that the target remains rooted in international efforts under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Theresa May added that innovation and research are central to achieving a sustainable future, noting that failure to address climate change could erase some Commonwealth nations due to rising sea levels.
The Grantham Institute’s film, Net Zero: The Inside Story of the UK’s Climate Target, explores the science and leadership behind the policy and its continuing importance in tackling the global climate crisis.