Thread by @DrSimEvans

The UK govt has formally issued draft legislation, making its 78% by 2035 climate goal into law

legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/978…

It does not (yet) legislate to include international aviation and shipping in the budget, but additional regulations on that will follow

legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/978…

for reference, here's Article 30 of the Climate Change Act under which international aviation and shipping will be included

legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/27/…

The UK's 78% by 2035 target will avoid 6bn tonnes of CO2e over 30 years and will be a net benefit to the UK economy worth £266bn

That's according to the govt "impact assessment" on the measure

legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2021/18/p…

There's a great thread on the impact assessment here from @timbolord

@timbolord Blimey, the UK govt expects the country's electricity system to be 95-99% zero carbon by 2035

That's 14 years from now

Its modelling includes up to 75% from wind and solar alone

legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2021/18/p…

@timbolord Interesting to see that the UK govt does not expect hydrogen to be used widely for heating, in its core modelling pathway to cutting emissions 78% by 2035

(it does model an alternative "high resource" pathway where hydrogen heat is widespread)

legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2021/18/p…

@timbolord A key issue for hydrogen heat is that low-carbon hydrogen isn't expected to be available at scale by the mid-2030s, according to the UK govt

legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2021/18/p…

@timbolord Also interesting to see UK govt modelling finding that blue hydrogen is needed, but only in the "short to medium term" before truly zero-carbon supplies become available at large scale and lower cost

legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2021/18/p…