The UK’s world-leading climate law has had a “transformative” effect on fighting global warming, but progress is now at risk, a report warns.

In a report launched to mark the 16th anniversary of the UK’s world-first Climate Change Act, campaign group Friends of the Earth warns the political consensus around climate action is unravelling, even as business leaders say it drives economic growth.

After what Friends of the Earth describes as “climate delays and U-turns” by the last government, the UK is off track to meet targets under the Act to cut emissions in the 2030s, and to achieve an international pledge to slash the pollution driving rising temperatures by 68% by 2030.

And while the Labour Government has positioned itself as a climate leader, analysis by the green group suggests that, since the general election, there has been limited delivery on the 10 urgent asks by the independent advisory Climate Change Committee to get the UK back on track.

With climate action plans by the previous government being judged unlawful, and a new plan required by May 2025, Friends of the Earth is urging ministers to set out a credible and fair new plan for climate action.

It must fairly finance action from a local to international level; ensure everyone can live in warm homes with clean, cheap energy; deliver affordable reliable public transport for all; and help people find good green jobs, particularly for sectors and areas at risk of being left behind, the group says.

After a campaign led by Friends of the Earth, the Climate Change Act became law in November 2008 with near-unanimous cross-party political support, requiring the UK to cut its emissions by 80% by 2050, which has now been updated to 100% or net zero.

The Friends of the Earth report shows that, in the 15 years from the Act becoming law to 2023, emissions have fallen 41%, compared with only 16% in the 15 years before the law was passed.

But progress stalled under the government led by Rishi Sunak, while new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has expressed scepticism over net zero, it says.

And the report warns that the new Labour Government has only fully put in place measures to meet one of the 10 priority recommendations for this year, on renewable power auctions, and partly in place for four, such as lifting planning barriers to heat pumps and wind, and reversing policy rollbacks.

That is despite business leaders saying the climate targets provide certainty for investment and driving growth and innovation.

Former Climate Change Committee chairman Lord Deben said the Climate Change Act has forced ministers to pay more attention to this “existential issue”, but “substandard” plans were produced by the previous government.

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