The Environmental Audit Committee will next week have the
opportunity to explore the extent to which net zero is being
considered in the development of Government policy across
Whitehall.
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, in
response to the Climate Change Committee's 2024 progress report
to Parliament, stated that Government must be more joined-up in
its delivery of net zero. However, with speculation mounting over
Government support for airport expansion, and a commitment to
build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years, is meeting
net zero in Government departments enough of a priority?
The Committee will also shine a spotlight on the Government's
Clean Power 2030 pledge. NESO has previously said that while the
challenge is huge, Britain powered by clean power by 2030 is
possible. But is championing energy-intensive artificial
intelligence – which the International Energy Agency has
predicted will lead to data centres' electricity consumption
increasing by between 35% and 128% globally by 2026 – a pressure
too far for a clean grid?
In this wide-ranging evidence session, members will also explore
the outcome of COP29 and international climate leadership,
delivering targets to reduce emissions and restore nature, and
parliamentary scrutiny of Government proposals for the Seventh
Carbon Budget.
Witnesses
From 16.30:
- Rt Hon MP, Secretary of State for
Energy Security and Net Zero
- Matt Toombs, Director, International Climate Finance and
Strategy at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Lee McDonough, Director General, Net Zero, Nuclear and
International at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
