Rachel Reeves, BEIS Chair comments on Committee on Climate Change report & 2050 net zero target

• Business Select Committee announces evidence hearings over coming weeks on the net zero target and how to implement it.

Rachel Reeves, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee has today [Thursday] commented on the Committee on Climate Change’s report which recommends the government adopt a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Rachel Reeves MP, Chair of the BEIS Committee said: “We are facing a climate change emergency and I welcome the Committee on Climate Change’s report which sets out a compelling case for the UK to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. Achieving this target will not be without its challenges, but it is vital that Government commits to net-zero and brings forward the policies needed for the UK to deliver it and capitalise on the future industrial opportunities offered by pursuing clean growth.

“We are currently not on target to meet the UK’s fourth and fifth carbon budgets, let alone achieve net zero so the stark reality is that the UK Government has a lot to do to help deliver a better planet for our children. On onshore wind, on electric vehicles, on carbon capture and storage, and on a range of other transport and energy areas such as energy efficiency, the Government needs to up its game and come forward with the policies, actions, and regulations needed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

“As a Committee, we will over the coming weeks be examining how to implement the 2050 target and holding the UK Government to account for its response to this challenge”.

The BEIS Committee has today announced it will hold evidence hearings on the net zero target, where, in light of the Committee on Climate Change’ s report, the BEIS Committee will question stakeholders and the Energy Minister, Claire Perry, on the actions needed to achieve net zero emissions.

The evidence hearings will also examine the costs and impacts on the public and businesses of implementing the policies and actions necessary to achieve a net zero target.

The BEIS Committee’s net-zero hearings are part of its ongoing work on the Clean Growth Strategy and complement its current inquiries on financing energy infrastructureand on energy efficiency. The Committee has also carried out inquiries on Carbon Capture Usage and Storage and on Electric Vehicles.

On Tuesday 8^th May (from 10am), the BEIS Committee will question stakeholders. An evidence session with Rt Hon Claire Perry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, will be scheduled for a later date.

The evidence hearing on 8^th May will hear from two panels of stakeholders and include the following witnesses:

• Chris Stark, Chief Executive, Committee on Climate Change 
• Professor Albert Klein-Tank, Director, Met Office Hadley Centre for Climate Science and Services 
• Nick Molho, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group 
• Will Webster, Energy Policy Manager, Oil & Gas UK
• Nick Robins, Professor in Practice - Sustainable Finance, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE