MP, Chair of the Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Committee has commented on the publication of
the Committee on Climate Change’s annual progress report [on
Wednesday] which warns of Government failures to deliver policies
to cut emissions and prepare the UK for the impacts of rising
temperatures:
“The Government’s recent commitment to reducing the UK’s
carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 was welcome but targets are
meaningless if not matched by concrete action. This latest CCC
report shows the Government has failed dismally to back up its
rhetoric with ambitious policies which deliver the cuts in
emissions the UK needs to achieve.
“Getting to net-zero requires will require action across all
parts of Government and our economy. Yet, in areas such as
electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage, and renewable
energy, we have seen the Government has been too lacking in the
ambition and political will to deliver the concrete policies
necessary to make an impact. The costs of inaction, for our
economy, for our environment, and for our health, are too great
for the UK Government to lag behind. The Government needs to get
the UK back on track and come forward with the policies, actions
and regulations needed to achieve the more ambitious target of
net zero emissions by 2050.
“We look forward to questioning the BEIS Minister [on
Tuesday] on the Government’s reaction to the CCC report and how
the UK Government is going to deliver the policies needed to
deliver on its legal obligations.”
On Tuesday 16 July at 4.30pm, the BEIS
Committee will be questioning MP, Interim Minister of
State for Energy and Clean Growth, on the Clean Growth Strategy
and ‘net zero’.
Background on BEIS Committee’s work relating to
climate change and net-zero
On Tuesday 9th July, the
BEIS Committee questioned Sir David Attenborough on a range of
issues relating to climate change and the ‘net zero’ emissions
target.
Following the Prime Minister’s commitment to the UK cutting
carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, and the publication of the
Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) report, the Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee held a session
on Tuesday
18th June examining the rationale
for going faster to hit the net zero target, hearing from
witnesses including Gail Bradbrook, Extinction Rebellion,
Isabella O'Dowd, Climate and Energy Specialist, WWF, and Baroness
Bryony Worthington, Environmental Defense Fund.
On Wednesday
8th May, the BEIS Committee questioned
the Committee on Climate Change and business stakeholders on the
net zero target and actions needed to achieve net zero emissions.
MP, Chair of the Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Committee recently wrote to
, Chancellor of the Exchequer
with a series of questions concerning reports that Government
estimates have put the cost of meeting the net zero carbon
emissions target by 2050 at £1 trillion. Rachel has
alsowritten to
Minister with a series of questions
about the Government’s approach to achieving net-zero carbon
emissions by 2050, including how the Government intends to
include emissions from international aviation and shipping and
use of international carbon credits.
The BEIS Committee recently joined with five other select
committees of the House of Commons (Environmental Audit; Housing,
Communities and Local Government; Science and Technology;
Transport; and Treasury) to announce
plans to hold a Citizens’ Assembly on combatting
climate change and achieving the pathway to net zero carbon
emissions.
