The U.K. government this week announced an ambitious goal to slash its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2025 -- a target that was met with a mix of praise and skepticism over how -- or if -- the country would actually pull it off.

In addition to being the first legally binding target looking beyond 2020, if the U.K. meets the new goal, it will be on solid footing to reach its 2030 and 2050 emissions-reductions targets of 60 and 80 percent below 1990 levels.

"With this decision, the U.K. seizes a huge economic and innovation opportunity that will make its economy more competitive in the future," Connie Hedegaard, climate action commissioner for the European Union, said in a statement.

Among the steps recommended to help the U.K. meet the goal:

• Massive investment in low-carbon energy in the form of wind, nuclear and carbon capture and storage (CCS) for coal- and gas-fired electricity.

• Large-scale smart meter roll-out to help U.K. residents and business understand and reduce their energy consumption.

• Reducing surface transportation emissions by 45 percent through widespread deployment of electric cars and vans, with the goal of a 60 percent EV share by 2030. Government initiatives to promote carpooling and public transportation could yield a 5 percent reduction in car trips.

• Widespread retrofits of residential and commercial buildings to improve insulation and implement low carbon technologies such as heat pumps.

• Cutting industry-produced emissions in half through efficiency, CCS and using biomass or biogas to meet a quarter of heat demand.

• Ramping up efficient farming practices for livestock and fertilizer applications to reduce farming-related emissions by up to 20 percent.

In contrast to Britain's target and roadmap, the United States has pledged reductions of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 -- or just 3.7 percent below 1990 levels.

Next page: Skepticism about Britain's "get-out" clause