E56：UK carbon budgets: practices, experience and insights

In the process of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality, in recent years, China has been establishing a dual control system of carbon emissions, i.e. regulating carbon emissions both in terms of emissions intensity and total amount. Globally, the UK was the first nation to establish legally binding targets for controlling greenhouse gas emissions. Its Climate Change Act 2008 established a mandatory carbon budget system, providing a clear, quantitative pathway for the UK to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In this episode, we are honored to have Dr. Emily Nurse, Director of Net Zero at the UK Climate Change Committee, on our show. The UK Climate Change Commitee is a statutory independent advisory body established under the Climate Change Act to support decision-making for the carbon budget system. Dr. Nurse provides a detailed introduction of how this system operates, including target setting, progress assessment, roles of different parties, etc. We also discuss the changes that individuals and households need to make, and the areas in which China and the UK can collaborate. This episode is co-produced by the British Embassy in Beijing and 不成气候No Such Climate. 【Timestamps】 02:40 Introducing our guest and the UK Climate Change Committee 04:09 What is a carbon budget and how does it differ from other targets for climate mitigation? 11:20 How does the UK carbon budget system work? 16:29 What factors are taken into consideration when determining carbon budgets? 23:55 How did the UK successfully achieve its past three carbon budgets? 27:33 Which sectors currently face more challenges in terms of emission reduction? Do these challenges imply economic impacts or lifestyle changes? 35:34 How do ordinary British citizens view net-zero transitions? 39:57 In which areas can China and the UK cooperate? 【Additional resources】 Climate Change Committee: The Seventh Carbon Budget Carbon Brief: Q&A: The UK government’s ‘carbon budget delivery plan’ for 2035 Assessing the size and uncertainty of remaining carbon budgets 【Credits】 Guest: Dr. Emily Nurse Plan: Vera(何弦), Le Yuan(乐园), British Embassy in Beijing Host: Vera(何弦), Le Yuan(乐园) Production: Vera(何弦), Le Yuan(乐园) 《不成气候No Such Climate》is a podcast that is broadly interested in atmospheric science topics such as climate change, air pollution, and their intersections with current news, events and everyday life. 【

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E56：UK carbon budgets: practices, experience and insights is an episode from 不成气候No Such Climate by 不成气候NoSuchClimate.

This episode is 44:12 long.

This episode was published on Apr 14, 2026.

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