The government has published its Net Zero Strategy, along with the much-delayed Heat and Buildings Strategy.

This Net Zero strategy builds on last year’s 10 point plan for a green industrial revolution, and is designed to keep us on track for UK carbon budgets, our 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution, and net zero by 2050. It includes:

• our decarbonisation pathways to net zero by 2050, including illustrative scenarios
• policies and proposals to reduce emissions for each sector
• cross-cutting action to support the transition

The Treasury has set out its own review of Net Zero. This sets out the potential costs, but has already been criticised for not fully considering the benefits of getting to Net Zero, leading to speculation of a rift between No. 10 and Treasury.

The heat and buildings strategy sets out the government’s plan to significantly cut carbon emissions from the UK’s 30 million homes and workplaces in a simple, low-cost and green way whilst ensuring this remains affordable and fair for households across the country. Like the transition to electric vehicles, this will be a gradual transition which will start by incentivizing consumers and driving down costs.

The incentives for converting gas boilers for domestic heating have been criticised, as the grant scheme is voluntary, there is no specific support for those on low incomes and no commitment to a date for full ban on fossil fuel boilers.