Daily life set to dramatically change as UK moves to cut climate emissions to zero by 2050

‘Achieving net zero will transform the ways we travel, the homes we live in and the food we eat’

Our daily lives are set to change dramatically in the next three decades as the UK moves to cut greenhouse gases to net zero by 2050.

The way our homes are heated, how we travel and what we eat will be transformed, according to the government’s expert advisory Committee on Climate Change.

Millions of homes will have to switch to low-carbon heating before 2030, with heat pumps, district heating networks and hydrogen boilers replacing natural gas boilers, analysis has found.

Homes could be fitted with “smart” systems to help control heat and power use, as well as improvements in insulation and double glazing, which would cut energy bills as well as reducing carbon emissions.

Even the look of the countryside could change, with more trees and mixed farming replacing the monoculture landscapes of today. People will also need to eat less beef, lamb and dairy, use separate food waste collections and even switch to peat-free compost in their gardens to help cut emissions, the report from the Committee on Climate Change said.

Families could also make a contribution to cutting emissions by switching short-haul flights to train journeys and reducing long-haul flights.

Drivers will have to move from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles, which will become cheaper than their old equivalents in the 2020s, or even give up their cars for walking, cycling and public transport.

As it made the announcement, No 10 highlighted how the changes could help improve health, for example by cutting air pollution from transport, and boost wildlife as more woodlands are planted.

David Reay, professor of carbon management at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Achieving net zero by 2050 will change all our lives. It will transform the ways we travel, the homes we live in and the food we eat.

“It will reshape our towns, cities and countryside, delivering cleaner air and water alongside a safer climate for generations to come.”

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) also pointed to the opportunity to create jobs through the shift to zero emissions, with 400,000 people already employed in the low-carbon sector and its supply chain.

Beis said it was investing in clean growth to create 2 million high-quality jobs by 2030.

Additional reporting by PA