Expanding the policy menu: how demand-side interventions can help the UK reach net zero

Public concern about anthropogenic climate change has grown over the last decade,and world governments have ramped up efforts to meet the challenge. The UnitedKingdom recently pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. While ambitiousmitigation goals indicate the right intentions, the target’s success depends on theefficacy of the government’s climate policies. National and international climate strate-gies are dominated by research into low-carbon energy sources, and programmes tocharge large emitters. These strategies have solid foundations in economic theory butare hamstrung by slow rates of diffusion of new technologies and industry oppositionto carbon taxes. Drawing on the increasing public support for drastic climate action,policymakers should implement interventions that focus on reducing consumers’ de-mand for energy and other carbon-intensive products. These consumer-facing policieswould enable meaningful individual action, complement existing climate interventionsand widen the government’s avenues to net zero