UK must aim for zero emissions at home too | Letter from Ed Miliband, Tim Farron, Caroline Lucas and others

We believe that the Paris agreement represents a historic opportunity for the world to tackle dangerous climate change. But that opportunity will only be realised if we follow up the good intentions of Paris with delivery in every country of the world. Paris was significant because it set out the ambition to keep global warming well below 2C, and ideally to 1.5C of warming, and it accepted that the world must get to net zero emissions in the second half of the century, in accordance with our scientific understanding. In doing so, the agreement built on the commitments by businesses and cities of the world to net zero emissions. A move driven not just by science but by the ambition for a world with cleaner air, better homes, and an improved quality of life.

The UK government deserves significant credit for having helped deliver the Paris agreement. Now we urge it to follow up its high ambition internationally, with high ambition here at home. Specifically, it can build on the momentum from Paris by supporting the idea of enshrining net zero emissions in UK domestic law, with the date to be advised by the independent committee on climate change.