Post: MPs call for removal of “net zero” from government terminology 

MPs call for removal of “net zero” from government terminology 

The term ‘net zero’ has lost much of its significant positive association, a cross-party group of MPs has said. 

In its report Zero sum game: How the UK can reframe the energy transition, published on 17 September, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee raised concerns that the use of the term net zero is increasingly acting as a distraction from the broader aims of the energy transition and as a “lightning rod” for opposition to climate action.  

It also said that the government has focused too heavily on emissions targets and the term ‘net zero’, rather than explaining practical benefits. The report recommended that as part of efforts to communicate the energy transition effectively, the term net zero should be dropped from the Department’s name and its key communications. 

The report highlights energy security as a key opportunity to build support. The war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and the energy cost crisis have increased concerns over the UK’s reliance on volatile international fossil fuel markets. The Committee argues that renewable energy could reduce exposure to global price shocks and strengthen the country’s resilience but says this message needs to be communicated more effectively. 

Among its recommendations, the Committee: 

• said delivering cost benefits for businesses and consumers is the single biggest step government can take to build support for the energy transition 

• calls on government to implement recommendations from its report Tackling the energy cost crisis to reduce electricity prices and improve the competitiveness of UK businesses. 

• welcomes the government’s increasing focus on energy security as a rationale for the energy transition 

• calls for further action to tackle the rise of misinformation about climate and the energy transition 

• recommends that the government tasks the national academies with raising their profile with the nation at large 

• recommends that the government develops a dedicated strategy to engage SMEs in the energy transition