Ministers have agreed to offer MPs a greater role in scrutinising
its latest net zero plans following recommendations by the
cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).
Today the Committee publishes the government's response to its
report on the Seventh Carbon Budget (CB7) covering the years
2038-2042, in which ministers agree with the Climate Change
Committee's recommendation, endorsed by the EAC, to cut emissions
by 87% by 2042 in comparison to 1992 levels.
In the response, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
agrees to the Committee's call to give MPs a half-day of debate
on the Floor of the House of Commons to agree the next Carbon
Budget, a marked increase in parliamentary scrutiny and
transparency from the passing of the Sixth Carbon Budget.
It will also publish a delivery plan for CB7 once Parliament has
decided on the level of the budget and will consider Parliament's
views when preparing its delivery plan.
The government also reiterates its recent move to include the
UK's share of international aviation and shipping emissions into
future Carbon Budgets, following another recommendation by the
Committee.
In response to the Committee's calls for clear backing for
climate policies across government, the Department says its
coordinating role delivering net zero is supported at the centre
of government. Both the Prime Minister and Chancellor are
committed to ensuring that departments work together to meet
Carbon Budgets, ministers say. The Committee is set to scrutinise
this topic further, through an upcoming inquiry into the
Treasury's contribution to climate goals.
The government also clarifies that it recognises the importance
of the Committee's recommendation to reduce electricity costs,
saying it has already taken action to move the Renewables
Obligation to the Exchequer and cancel the Energy Company
Obligation. However, the government does not address the
Committee's specific recommendation to move further electricity
policy costs onto general taxation.
On the Committee's concerns that the costs of decarbonising could
fall disproportionately on poorer people, the government says
that it recognises that its Clean Energy Mission will only
succeed if we take people with us. It says it is committed to
achieving this through working in partnership with industry and
through initiatives such as the re-launched Net Zero Council and
the Energising Britain public participation plan.
The Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, MP, said:
I welcome today's response, which makes clear that Parliament
will have a much greater opportunity to scrutinise the
government's latest plans to reach net zero, compared to the 17
minutes of debate in a Commons committee room that the last
Budget received.
Achieving an ambitious but fair transition to net zero is one of
the greatest challenges facing the UK today. MPs need a genuine
chance to debate the issues at play, and I am pleased that the
government has listened to our Committee on this matter.
I also welcome the government's action to include the UK's share
of international shipping and aviation emissions in future Carbon
Budgets. We cannot outsource our way to net zero. Including these
emissions will provide a more accurate' picture of the UK's
contribution to climate change.
However, I encourage ministers to take further action in several
areas, not least bringing down electricity costs. It is only by
bringing down bills and making electrification attractive and
affordable that we can bring the public with us and protect UK
industries and jobs.
Ultimately, the Seventh Carbon Budget will live or die by the
government's expected delivery plan, which must make sure that a
realistic path is mapped in a way that is fairly distributed and
protects UK incomes, jobs and industries.
The Seventh Carbon Budget:
Government Response
