The road to net zero: UK public preferences for low-carbon lifestyles

• Many strategies to reduce carbon emissions within these four lifestyle areas were still unfamiliar to people, and there was a general lack of awareness of the extent to which changes need to occur to meet carbon targets. [...] 3 CAST BRIEFING PAPER 14 | THE ROAD TO NET ZERO: UK PUBLIC PREFERENCES FOR LOW-CARBON LIFESTYLES INTRODUCTION The UK was the first country in the world to introduce legislation to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 [1], which will require a rapid transformation of every sector of the economy and society. [...] Related to this, public acceptance of improved product standards and lifetime guarantees is likely to be high because people want to own more durable products, and people want manufacturers and businesses to take a share of the responsibility for reducing carbon emissions. [...] There is a lack of awareness of the extent to which changes need to occur to meet carbon targets There was a general lack of understanding of how much change is needed, in everyone’s lifestyles, for net zero targets to be met. [...] 21 CAST BRIEFING PAPER 14 | THE ROAD TO NET ZERO: UK PUBLIC PREFERENCES FOR LOW-CARBON LIFESTYLES RECOMMENDATIONS People are willing to engage in low-carbon lifestyle change and many are open to try the strategies presented to them.