Public Accounts Committee ‘As it gears up to host the international climate summit COP26 a few months from now the UK Government “lacks a plan for how it will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050” despite setting the target – in law – almost two years ago.
- Read the report summary
- Read the conclusions and recommendations
- Read the full report: Achieving Net Zero
- [PDF 284 KB]
Government “intends to publish a plethora of strategies this year” setting out how it will reduce emissions in different sectors ranging from transport to the heating of buildings, but “at present, there is no coordinated plan” with clear milestones towards achieving the target, the Public Accounts Committee says in a report today.
Departments across Government are not yet sufficiently considering the impact on net zero when taking forward projects and programmes. The Treasury has changed the guidance on policy appraisal to ensure departments place greater emphasis on the environmental impacts, but also hasn’t set out how this will work in practice.
Government is not yet ensuring its activities to reduce UK emissions are not simply transferring emissions overseas, which would undermine global efforts to tackle climate change.
As much as 62% of the future reduction in emissions will rely on individual choices and behaviours, from day to day lifestyle choices to one off purchases such as replacing boilers that use fossil fuels or buying an electric vehicle.
Government has not yet engaged with the public on the substantial, individual behaviour – as well as structural economic – changes that achieving net zero will require. In 2020 a group of Parliamentary select committees hosted Climate Assembly UK in an attempt to begin that conversation with the public.
Local authorities will also play a major role in the move to net zero, and Government will need to engage more with local authorities on their role in reaching net zero, including ensuring they have the necessary resources.’
No Comment