In response to the Committee on Climate Change’s report on net
zero (published tomorrow) please see a response from the
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
below.
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy : “Few subjects
unite people across generations and borders like climate change
and I share the passion of those wanting to halt its catastrophic
effects.
“One of our proudest achievements as a country is our position as
a world-leader in tackling this global challenge, being the first
country to raise the issue on the international stage, introduce
long-term legally-binding climate reduction targets and cutting
emissions further than all other G20 countries. Today’s report
recognises the work we’ve done to lay the foundations to build a
net zero economy, from generating record levels of low carbon
electricity to our ambitious plans to transition to electric
vehicles.
“To continue the UK’s global leadership we asked the CCC to
advise the Government on how and when we could achieve net zero.
This report now sets us on a path to become the first major
economy to legislate to end our contribution to global warming
entirely.”
ENDS
Additional information
- We are convinced of the urgency of action on climate
change, which is why we asked for this advice from the Committee
on Climate Change last October.
- We are not immediately accepting the recommendations set out
in today’s Committee on Climate Change detailed report but will
be responding in due course to ensure the UK continues to be a
world leader in tackling climate change.
- The UK is committed to tackling climate change and we are a
world leader in cutting emissions while creating
wealth. Between 1990 and 2017, the UK reduced its
emissions by over 40 per cent while growing the economy by more
than two thirds.
- In October 2017, we published our Clean Growth
Strategy, setting out our plans for meeting our
carbon targets and our ambition to legislate for a net zero
emissions target. Since then we have continued to bring
forward new policy and deliver on the strategy.
- We also put clean growth at the heart of our modern
Industrial Strategy through making it one of four ‘Grand
Challenges’, boosted by significant innovation funding.
- We’ve heard the urgent calls to protect our wildlife and
habitats, and we are already acting to do so. Our ambitious 25
Year Environment Plan outlines our commitment to supporting and
protecting the world’s most biodiverse forests, supporting
sustainable agriculture and enhancing sustainability, and
supporting zero-deforestation supply chains.
- As the Environment Secretary said, the transition to a clean
economy "will require us to change the way in which our energy is
generated, change the way in which our homes are built, change
the way in which our land is managed and farming operates. But
that change is absolutely necessary."
- We are playing a leading role internationally, at COP24
in Katowice, we reached global agreement on a robust and
transparent rulebook to drive genuine climate action.
- As a world leader in clean growth, we recognise the need to
ensure the momentum generated by the Paris Agreement is
maintained. Everyone is feeling the impacts of climate change and
we know that we need to work with other countries, civil society
and businesses to drive ambitious action together.
- To energise the country we’ve set a date for this year’s
Green GB Week. From 4 November all parts of society will be
hosting events to showcase the challenge and the opportunities of
moving to a greener, cleaner economy. More information can be
found here.
- We have therefore offered to host COP26 in 2020, and we are
committed to ensuring it is a success.
Top stats
- First country to introduce long-term legally-binding climate
change targets in 2008 through the Climate Change Act
- We’ve cut carbon emissions by 42% since 1990 levels – the
fastest in the G7
- PM announced the first clean growth mission to halve energy
use of all new buildings by 2030
- We announced a second mission to establish the world’s first
'net zero carbon' industrial cluster by 2040 to cut emissions
from heavy industry, backed by up to £170m of funding.
- A third of our electricity will come from offshore wind by
2030
- Biggest offshore wind capacity in the world
- By 2030 70% of electricity could come from low carbon sources
- Investing over £2.5bn in low carbon innovation by 2021
- Phasing out coal-fired energy generation by 2025
- Formed the world-leading Powering Past Coal Alliance which
now has more than 80 members (includes national govts, local
govts, businesses and organisations)
- Last year we went a total of more than two months / 77hrs /
11 weeks without using coal power and over the Easter weekend we
went a record 90 hours in a row without using coal
- Plans for the UK’s first carbon capture storage by mid 2020s
- 20% of electric vehicles in Europe built in the UK
- Almost 400,000 low carbon jobs in the UK, with one estimate
suggesting this could hit 2m by 2030
- Spending at least £5.8bn on International Climate Finance
between 2016 and 2020
