04.23a UK mitigation strategies Flashcards
What is the UK government’s Ten Point Plan?
It is the UK government’s national mitigation strategy for climate change, released in November 2020, which aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050
10 Point Plan: Offshore wind
The UK aims to produce 40GW of electricity from offshore wind by 2030, and is already generating more electricity from offshore wind than any other country. The UK is also home to the world’s first two floating offshore wind farms and aims to scale this up twelvefold by 2030.
10 Point Plan: Low carbon hydrogen
The UK aims for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with a £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund set to launch in April 2023.
10 Point Plan: Nuclear power
The UK government announced a £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund to progress new nuclear power projects, as well as investing £100 million into Sizewell C to help develop this project.
10 Point Plan: Electric vehicles
From 2030, the UK will end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans, 10 years earlier than planned. The government aims to have 30,425 public charge points in the UK, with 100 new rapid chargers added to the UK network every month during 2021.
10 Point Plan: Public transport
Tens of billions of pounds will be invested in enhancements and renewals of the rail network, with £4.2 billion going towards city public transport and £5 billion on buses, cycling and walking. The government will invest £120 million next year to begin the introduction of at least 4,000 more British built zero-emission buses and start electrifying the rail service.
10 Point Plan: Aviation and shipping
The Jet Zero Council was established to accelerate the development of new technologies to reach net zero aviation, with £15 million invested into FlyZero, a 12-month study into the issues in designing and developing zero-emission aircraft. £20 million will be invested into the Clean Maritime Demonstration Programme to develop clean maritime technology.
10 Point Plan: Heat pumps
The government aims for 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028, with gas boilers banned from new housing in 2025 and households no longer able to buy gas boilers from 2035. The government has set aside £450 million under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for 3 years and will give £5,000 government grants to households as part of the scheme.
10 Point Plan: Carbon capture, usage, and storage
The government aims to establish CCUS in two industrial clusters by mid-2020s, and for four of these sites to exist by 2030, capturing up to 10 Mt of carbon dioxide per year.
10 Point Plan: Nature
The government aims to protect the natural environment through the creation of new National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
10 Point Plan: Innovation
The government has allocated £615 million from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which will focus on ten priority areas that correspond with this Ten Point Plan, including: floating offshore wind; nuclear advanced modular reactors; energy storage and flexibility; bioenergy; hydrogen; homes; direct air capture and advanced CCUS; industrial fuel switching; and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence for energy.
What are some technological challenges in achieving the net zero aim with the Ten Point Plan?
Some technological challenges in achieving the net zero aim with the Ten Point Plan include the lack of charging points for electric vehicles, which may result in long charging times, the shortage of materials for electric vehicles and carbon capture and storage, and the need to redesign airplanes for cleaner fuel.
What are some socio-economic challenges in achieving the net zero aim with the Ten Point Plan?
Socio-economic challenges in achieving the net zero aim with the Ten Point Plan include the allocation of funds and priorities in the current global challenges, the high cost and potential risks of using hydrogen, and the unaffordability of renewable/sustainable energy sources for the majority of people.
What are some political challenges in achieving the net zero aim with the Ten Point Plan?
Political challenges in achieving the net zero aim with the Ten Point Plan include the risk of losing votes from those who oppose certain measures, such as onshore wind power and nuclear power, and the opposition of some political parties, such as the Green Party, to the use of nuclear power.
What are some reasons why people oppose nuclear power?
Some reasons people oppose nuclear power include the risk of nuclear weapons development, nuclear waste and pollution, accidents or disasters, and the high upfront cost.
