Make UK comment on Committee on Climate Change Report

Commenting on the report today by the Committee on Climate Change, Roz Bulleid, Head of Climate & Environment Policy at Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation said: 

“The CCC’s analysis of the scale of change needed to meet a net zero target, and the potential costs for industry, makes for a sobering read. If it acts on the committee’s advice, the government must ensure greater UK ambition is used to leverage further action from other countries too. This is important from both an environmental perspective and in ensuring energy intensive UK industries are not left paying much higher regulatory costs than overseas competitors, disincentivising future investment. To date, much of the sector has viewed climate change policy as something that adds costs, directly or via their electricity bills, rather than delivering the ‘first mover advantage’ promised when the original 2050 target was agreed. We can’t have more of the same.

“The key issue for manufacturers will be the policies and support mechanisms put in place to meet any net zero target, particularly how they ensure continued international competitiveness and spur innovation and investment in low-carbon technologies. We are pleased to see the CCC acknowledge the need for active government support for industrial decarbonisation to ensure we don’t simply offshore our emissions. Also welcome are its backing for carbon capture and storage and call for a broad Treasury-led review of the costs of decarbonisation and where these should fall.”