UK Government urged to adopt ‘greater transparency’ on impact of net zero policy updates

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has called on the government to take on ‘greater transparency’ in updating its assessment of policy impacts at the time of major announcements on net zero.

This comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave a press conference in September announcing a relaxation on measures designed to meet the UK's climate targets. 

Sunak said he is “proud that our country leads the world on net zero, with the most ambitious 2030 target of any major economy” but argued that meeting climate targets, such as achieving net zero by 2050, can be done “in a fairer, better way”.

Changes included moving back the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035 and the ban on new fossil fuel boilers for certain households will be delayed. Cash grants for boiler upgrade schemes will increase by 50 per cent to £7,500 for those who want to transition now.

The chancellor and energy security secretary will also bring forward comprehensive new reforms to energy infrastructure.

The CCC highlights these changes as well as others, such as a deal being reached to electrify steelmaking at Port Talbot and the fifth auction round (AR5) for Contracts for Difference (CfDs) failing to attract bids for offshore wind projects.

The recent announcements “were not accompanied by corresponding estimates of their effect on emissions, nor with evidence to back the government’s assurance that the UK’s targets will still be met", the CCC pointed out, describing it as "unhelpful".

In June, the committee said it was concerned that the government had been "too slow" to support and adopt cleaner, cheaper alternatives to fossil fuels, rather, then committee chair Lord Deben said the government has been “too keen” to support new production of coal, oil and gas.

The committee’s confidence in the UK meeting its goals from 2030 onwards is “now markedly less than it was in our previous assessment a year ago”, according to its report Progress in Reducing Emission: 2023 Report to Parliament.

Professor Piers Forster, chair of the Climate Change Committee, welcomed the "tangible positive policy progress" in some key areas, but the relaxation of “important” policies to decarbonise buildings and transport has countered the positive progress of other announcements.

“We remain concerned about the likelihood of achieving the UK’s future targets, especially the substantial policy gap to the UK’s 2030 goal. Around a fifth of the required emissions reductions to 2030 are covered by plans that we assess as insufficient. Recent policy announcements were not accompanied by estimates of their effect on future emissions, nor evidence to back the government’s assurance that the UK’s targets will still be met. We urge the government to adopt greater transparency in updating its analysis at the time of major announcements.

“Our position as a global leader on climate has come under renewed scrutiny following the prime minister’s speech. We urge the government to restate strong British leadership on climate change in the crucial period before the next climate summit, COP28 in Dubai.”