Post: UK must go further and faster on net zero

UK must go further and faster on net zero

A new review of the government’s net zero plans has claimed that delaying climate action and net zero risks damaging the UK’s economic prospects.

The report, published on 13 January, claims that the UK is “falling behind” on some targets and needs a “new approach”, with clear and consistent policies. Chris Skidmore – the Tory MP who was commissioned by former prime minister Liz Truss to review the government’s delivery of net zero, to ensure it was “pro-growth and pro-business”, said net zero is “the growth opportunity of the 21st century”, but the UK “must move quickly” and decisively to reap the economic benefits of achieving the target. “Moving quickly must include spending money. We know that investing in net zero today will be cheaper than delaying, as well as increasing the economic and climate benefits”, Skidmore said.

The report calls for 25 actions within two years, including:

• Legislate by 2025 the minimum energy efficiency rating to EPC B for all non domestic buildings, both rented and owned, by 2030
• Conduct and publish, before Autumn 2023, a review of how we should change regulation for emerging technologies
• By the end of 2023 HMT should review how policy incentivises investment in decarbonisation, including via the tax system and capital allowances
• In 2023, government must act quickly to re-envisage and implement a clear CCUS roadmap, showing the plan beyond 2030
• Set up taskforce and deployment roadmaps in 2023 for solar to reach up to 70GW by 2035 and onshore wind to reach required deployment levels for 2035 net zero grid
• By Autumn 2023, create a roadmap that details decision points for developing and deploying R&D and technologies that are critical for enabling the net zero pathway to 2050
• Providing longer-term funding certainty for major low carbon projects, including new nuclear power plants
• Legislating to phase out gas boilers by 2033, rather than 2035
• “Eco-labelling” more environmentally friendly foods to lower carbon emissions

In his conclusion, Skidmore said the UK was in a “net-zero race” and delaying decisions risked losing jobs, infrastructure and investments to other countries.

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