Climate experts have said the government needs to cut the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035 if net zero commitments are going to be met.

The reduction, which is relative to the UK’s emissions from 1990, will require “rapid but achievable action”, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said. The independent body is responsible for advising the government on policies that it needs to implement in order to tackle climate change. In August, energy minister Ed Miliband asked the CCC to provide advice on meeting the UK’s 2035 nationally determined contribution.

The UK has already cut its emissions by more than 50% since 1990, but the CCC said that “rapid reductions” in fossil fuel dependence were the best way to enhance UK’s energy security, while green investment would also help to support new jobs across the country. The UK has among the lowest volumes of gas in storage in Europe, so consumers were particularly hard hit by spikes in the wholesale price of fossil fuels following Russia...