United Kingdom
Overall NDC Equity Score
Average
Emissions Reductions
Exemplary
Gender Justice
Average
Youth Inclusion
Critically Deficient
Summary
The UK is a Top 20 Global Emitter with insufficient climate commitments that risk exacerbating its own climate vulnerability. Having seen a rise in extreme rainfall and thus flooding due to climate change, major disruptions and damages have occurred around the country. Heatwaves during the summer months are increasingly frequent with severe implications. Meanwhile, unique ecosystems such as temperate rainforests – one of the rarest ecosystems on Earth – and their biodiversity are under threat. The UK has been the first major economy to bring in laws for Net Zero emissions by 2025, but as of 2024 the Climate Change Committee (CCC) reports that they are not on track to meet targets as a result of delayed action and policy falling short. Notable policies outside of the NDC include the Climate Change Act, the Net Zero Strategy and carbon budgets.
The NDC commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 68% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, which is one of the most ambitious global targets, however the CCC has warned that credible plans only exist for around a third of what is needed. With minor mentions of gender equality and youth inclusion, there is only so much social justice that can be achieved alongside climate action. Considering the UK was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and a colonising entity, making it one of the first and most significant contributors to greenhouse gases, the country has a high responsibility when it comes to lowering emissions. Whilst it aims to take on the role of a global climate leader, committed actions are needed to meet this target.
On gender mainstreaming and inclusion, the UK’s NDC has little evidence on the inclusion of women, girls and gender-diverse people in its climate targets. It is committed to gender equality via the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan and the Gender Equality Act frameworks, yet the NDC lacks detail on how these are implemented. There is also no clear method of collecting gender-disaggregated data, nor is there mention of consulting women’s groups in creating climate policies. With statements alluding to the importance of gender inclusivity and empowerment, there must be clear action points to follow through and make this a reality.
On youth inclusion, the UK’s NDC vaguely mentions young people as contributors to its climate goals, whilst lacking true implementation strategies to ensure their voices are heard and respected. The UK does have youth-focused initiatives, such as the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, but there are no official youth engagement processes to develop climate policies or implement them. There is no National Youth Council, or recognition of Local Conferences of Youth. If the inclusion of youth is as important to the UK as it claims to be, there should be tangible ways of inclusion into all climate decision-making spaces.
Highlights
- Aims to be a global climate leader with ambitious emissions reductions targets of at least 68% by 2030 and 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
- Dedicated to making Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030 via the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, whilst also having lifted the onshore wind ban, consenting to large amounts of solar and delivering a record-breaking renewables auction.
- Commits to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance by 2025/2026, including at least £3bn on nature, whilst ensuring a roadmap to £1.3 trillion of finance for developing countries.
- Emphasises a just transition by supporting communities while advancing forest protection and Indigenous rights through new COP29 partnerships and funding
- Acknowledges there is no global stability without climate stability, with mentions on incorporating youth, gender and other vulnerable groups into the transition.
Lowlights
- Misalignment between national net zero by 2050 goal and 2030/2035 targets as a result of delayed action and gaps in policy implementation - therefore threatening credibility.
- Makes little effort to be truly inclusive of gender in implementing climate policy, reducing chances that decisions will be more environmentally-positive.
- Fails to acknowledge or adequately invest in the crucial role of young people in shaping and delivering climate solutions.
- Lack of detail for plans relating to circular economies and regenerative agriculture - two specific areas in which this type of development would provide a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Insufficient focus on adaptation and resilience from weather extremes, particularly floods and heatwaves.
Key Recommendations
The UK’s NDC is ambitious in its approach to emissions, but falls short where gender and youth commitments are concerned. The emissions reduction targets make the UK one of the first countries globally to bring it in line with what would be necessary for the 1.5°C Paris Agreement limit. There is little indication of how women, gender-diverse and youth voices will be amplified moving forward, or what concrete plans there are to support wider equality and inclusion goals.
However, as the UK is aiming to be a global climate leader in the lead-up to net zero, the two areas of gender and youth should not be overlooked but rather prioritised as solutions in and of themselves, setting an example to other countries by going into more detail into how solid actionable commitments will serve these marginalised communities.
The following are key recommendations for the improvement of future NDCs and other national climate plans:
For Gender Justice
- Ensure equal representation of both men, women and gender-diverse people in climate policy decision-making to improve inclusivity and positive environmental outcomes.
- Integrate inclusive climate action into all policy areas to ensure fair access to resources, support and leadership opportunities for all genders (including gender-diverse individuals).
- Include women and gender-diverse individuals at every stage of the NDC development and implementation process and make this mandatory.
- Collect and apply up-to-date gender disaggregated data on climate in the UK and its overseas territories to inform targeted policy interventions.
- Dedicate climate finance specifically to women-led solutions in community-based adaptation, grassroots movements and mitigation efforts, with capacity-building support.
- Collaborate with feminist organisations to co-design policies that are inclusive and work on advancing gender justice through a truly intersectional approach to climate equity.
For Youth Inclusion
- Recognise youth as a vulnerable yet essential stakeholder group in the climate crisis, and explicitly acknowledge their right to a livable future
- Implement an official institutionalized consultation process eg. National Youth Climate Council is created, Local Conferences of Youth are recognised, or there are Youth Representatives in Government.
- Include young people at every stage of the NDC development and implementation process via youth-led organisations and networks, highlighting how their contributions informed the NDC process throughout.
- Establish climate negotiation training initiatives and capacity building for youth groups, ensuring they are given the opportunities to influence policy.
- Allocate adequate funding and resources for youth-led climate initiatives, empowering them to lead projects and engage in climate action at different levels.
NDC Ambassador - Author
