How is the UK government falling behind on delivering its climate goals?
The latest Climate Change Committee (CCC) report, published 27th June 2023, calls out the government for a lack of urgent, large-scale action to deliver the UK’s climate goals.
We explore some of the main points made in the report, and share Good Energy’s response to it.
What are the main learnings from the CCC report?
The CCC is an independent body that advises the government on emissions targets. Once a year it reports to Parliament on the progress made with achieving these emission targets, and on the preparedness of the UK to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
2023’s report commented on several areas where the CCC views that the government is failing to make the progress needed to cut carbon emissions at the rate required. For example, the report criticised the continuing reliance on technological solutions that have not been deployed at scale, in preference to more straightforward and actionable means to reduce high carbon activities.
The CCC’s confidence that the UK will meet its emission reduction targets for 2030 and beyond are markedly less than they were in previous years’ reports. As a reminder, these include a commitment enshrined in law to cut emissions by 78% compared to 1990 levels by 2035, and reach net zero emissions by 2050. Although glimmers of the Net Zero transition can be seen in growing sales of new electric cars and the continued deployment of renewable capacity, the scale-up of action overall is worryingly slow.
Green heating – the ambition is outstripping ability to deliver
The government has a goal of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (which provides grants of £5,000 towards heat pump installations) has been extended to 2028 to support this goal. However, the scheme has only received £450 million in government funding – enough for 90,000 installs.
The CCC report also criticises the long wait until the government takes a ‘strategic decision’ on the role of hydrogen for heating, which is not due until 2026.
Investment in renewables and EV infrastructure has stalled
The report also criticises the pace of rollout for renewables, failures in delivery of energy efficiency schemes and the need to speed up EV charging infrastructure growth. The committee said in a crucial period for delivering progress, there were seven key recommendations given to the government’s department for energy last year, on which no progress has been made.
New fossil fuel projects are incompatible with net zero
It should go without saying that urgently transitioning away from fossil fuel energy should not involve greenlighting new fossil fuel extraction projects. Government approval for a new coal mine in Cumbria and new North Sea oil and gas such as Rosebank, will blow the UK’s remaining carbon budget.
Lord Deben, outgoing Chair of the CCC, called these actions “utterly unacceptable”, and go against the advice delivered to the government by the CCC in previous years.
What is Good Energy’s response on the CCC report?
Nigel Pocklington, CEO of Good Energy, put out a statement calling for more urgent action in key areas such as increasing energy efficiency and greater investment in renewable energy sources.
“The energy crisis, driven by volatile global fossil fuel markets, should have indicated all systems go on speeding up renewables and getting off gas. Instead, as the CCC’s report shows, the government has stalled.
“Addressing climate change never dropped off the British public’s priority list, why did it fall down the government’s? We can combat climate change and the cost of living together. Fixing our grid, insulating homes, rapidly rolling out renewables, electrifying heat – these measures will cut carbon and cut costs.”
Addressing climate change never dropped off the British public’s priority list, why did it fall down the government’s? We can combat climate change and the cost of living together.
Nigel Pocklington, CEO of Good Energy
What are the recommendations from the CCC report?
To get back on track, the CCC report made the following recommendations:
- Increase urgency. While the policy framework to cut carbon emissions has continued to develop over the past year, this is not happening at the required pace for future targets.
- Stay firm on existing commitments and deliver them. The Government has made several strong commitments, these must be restated and moved as swiftly as possible towards delivery.
- Retake a clear leadership role internationally. The UK will need to regain its international climate leadership.
- Empower and inform households and communities to make low-carbon choices. Despite some positive steps to provide households with advice on reducing energy use in the last year, a coherent public engagement strategy on climate action is long overdue.
- Planning policy needs radical reform to support Net Zero. The planning system must have an overarching requirement that all planning decisions must be taken giving full regard to the imperative of Net Zero.
- Expansion of fossil fuel production is not in line with Net Zero. As well as pushing forward strongly with new low-carbon industries, Net Zero also makes it necessary to move away from high-carbon developments.
- The need for a framework to manage airport capacity. There has been continued airport expansion in recent years, counter to our assessment that there should be no net airport expansion across the UK.
