Why unrealistic green transition targets could derail net-zero goals—and what a smarter decarbonisation pace looks like

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by The Conversation, click this post to read the original article.

If you’re wondering why the UK’s transition to clean energy feels so slow, it’s not just about politics or technology. The real challenge lies in the foundation of our modern world—everything we use, from roads to factories, was built assuming abundant, fast energy from fossil fuels. This has shaped our expectations for speed, efficiency, and convenience. Fossil fuels compress millions of years of energy into moments, making it seem natural to build instantly and expect things to last forever. But moving towards net zero emissions means not just changing energy sources, but rethinking how we live and build.

You might be hearing promises about accelerating the green transition, but current efforts often rely on tweaking existing systems rather than changing them fundamentally. For example, new “tieback” oil licences in the North Sea allow continued fossil fuel extraction by extending old infrastructure, rather than creating new paths forward. Similarly, the UK’s plan for a carbon capture cement plant is a technical win, but it still follows the old model—fitting a filter to a process that remains energy-intensive and reliant on ancient materials.

Projects like these keep the fast-paced rhythm of the fossil-fuel era alive, making it hard to break out of old habits. Take the national electricity grid as another example. It was built for a steady flow of large fossil fuel plants, not the hundreds of decentralized renewable projects now waiting for connection. With over 700 gigawatts of projects in the queue—far more than the country even needs—the system is overwhelmed. And it’s not due to a lack of innovation, but because the energy infrastructure wasn’t designed for this scale of transition.

What this shows you is that the green transition isn’t just about better tech—it’s about changing your expectations. The systems and industries we rely on were built over many decades and won’t shift overnight. Cement plants last 50 years, and electricity networks take years to expand. Progress will involve adapting what already exists, often slowly, rather than expecting instant results.

So, while urgency remains critical in fighting climate change, you need to understand that urgency doesn’t mean rushing. A meaningful shift to a low-carbon economy requires aligning policies, industries, and your daily life with the slower but more sustainable pace of nature. Success will come not from maintaining fossil-era speeds but from embracing a more thoughtful, regenerative way of living.