All targets are great. If there's no way to reach them, targets are not worth the effort. They are useless in this case. This is the problem facing the government. The UK's stated goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% in 2035, compared to 1990 levels, is extremely ambitious. Last week, Lord Deben, the former Conservative environment secretary John Gummer used the word "remarkable" to describe the UK's stated goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035 compared with 1990 levels. He is the chairman of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government. The latest reports show a stark contrast between ambitious goals and insufficient plans to achieve them.Before the Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow, November, a strategy describing how the UK will meet its net zero pledge was promised. Ministers have not yet grasped the magnitude of the task. The CCC found that not a single department of government is making the required progress. There has been a worrying lack of progress in transport, agriculture, buildings, and industry, all of the major emissions-producing sectors, except power generation. The Foreign Office is also implicated in the cuts to the aid budget. As a key element of the global climate change process, support for poor countries in their transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy has been long recognized.The UK is not the only country falling short of its commitments. Malik Amin Aslam (Pakistan's climate minister) described the G7 meeting's final communiqué as "peanuts" in terms of how much funding was allocated. The leaks of UN scientists' upcoming report highlight growing concern that emissions could rebound quickly after pandemic tipping points like the melting polar ice sheet. Scientists have formed a new expert group based on the UK's Independent Sage to raise public awareness after alarm at these findings. The UK, as the host of Cop26 and one of the largest historical emitters of CO2 due to its early industrialization, has a special responsibility for not avoiding the truth.The CCC outlines the next steps ministers should take. Part of plans to increase jobs and reduce emissions could include the restoration of the green home grant scheme and the gradual elimination of gas boilers. For far too long, the large carbon footprint of the UK's old (by international standards), and poorly insulated housing stock was ignored. It doesn't seem necessary to point out that all new housing must adhere to strict environmental standards. It is scandalous that it does so, and speaks volumes regarding the influence of the housebuilding industry on the government.Covid's impact on transport has been turbulent and must be addressed in a variety of ways if we want to avoid increased road traffic pollution. Last week, the Labour-led Welsh government made a good decision by promising to stop all road-building projects. UK's 27bn road-building plans must be reviewed. Sadiq Khan, London's mayor, should follow Wales' lead and cancel plans to build a tunnel under the Thames. While higher taxes on flying may not be popular, they are necessary to persuade people to use trains over them. Reduce meat consumptionThese ideas are not new. The buildup to November's conference is an historic and unique moment. Boris Johnson's partnership with Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of India, has not delivered on climate. CCC reports that ministers make high-carbon decisions. This will ensure that the threat of an environmental and diplomatic catastrophe not far behind the pandemic continues to grow if it doesn't change in the face of the latest warnings.
