Dr (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): The Minister
will know that the NFU has set a target for earlier than 2050. At
the very least will he look at options for bringing forward the
date by which we should be able to meet the target of net zero
emissions?
The Minister for Energy and Clean Growth (Chris Skidmore): We
have obviously taken advice on the 2050 target from the
independent Committee on Climate Change, which has suggested that
at the moment 2050 is the earliest possible date for reaching net
zero. Obviously, we are the first G7 country to make that
commitment to 2050. Other economies, such as Norway, have
committed to 2038. As part of the Government’s local industrial
strategy, the Greater Manchester area committed, just last week,
to a net zero target by 2038. I welcome the NFU’s commitment, but
what we are saying as a Government is that all agencies across
society will need to take action.
We welcome the NFU’s leadership on agricultural emissions and
looking at how the agricultural sector can be decarbonised.
However, when it comes to the framework of the Climate Change
Act, as the right hon. Member for Doncaster North highlighted
during the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary
of State, the review mechanism is built into the legislation to
allow us the opportunity to review the target in five years. When
it comes to the overall cost—and some hon. Members may wish to
reflect on the costs of going from 80% to 100%—the review
mechanism is important. The Committee on Climate Change has
recommended that the overall cost envelope of reaching net zero
be the same as the 80% envelope, because since the original 80%
target was set out, the costs of renewables and other technology
have come down...
(Truro and Falmouth) (Con):
Does my hon. Friend welcome the support of the CBI and the
British Chambers of Commerce, the NFU, the Royal Academy of
Engineering and many household-name companies, because the
legislation will give them certainty about investment so that
they can benefit from the growth in our economy? It really is not
only achievable to reach net zero by 2050, but affordable.
: I thank my hon. Friend for
putting on record the wide range of support from many companies
that have written to the Prime Minister and set out their own
ambitious targets. I feel a bit like the BBC when it comes to
whether I should name certain companies rather than others, but I
know that many food manufacturers and retail corporations—big
names on the high street—have already made the commitment to
2050. We are following in their footsteps as a Government and
Parliament to provide the legislation today. My hon. Friend is
right: the legislative framework will provide long-term security
for those companies to begin their transitions.
