UK Inquiry Tracker

Greening the post-Covid recovery

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 13 May 2020 Closed: 27 Jul 2022 Parliament page

In May the Committee held a session on the environmental implications of the Covid-19 crisis. Witnesses stressed how critical it would be to align the post-crisis recovery stimulus with the UK’s goals on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development – given the short window of opportunity remaining to keep global … Read more In May the Committee held a session on the environmental implications of the Covid-19 crisis. Witnesses stressed how critical it would be to align the post-crisis recovery stimulus with the UK’s goals on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development – given the short window of opportunity remaining to keep global temperature rises to a manageable level. The Committee has since agreed to launch an inquiry looking at how to align any post-pandemic economic stimulus package with the UK’s climate and environment goals. Economic impact and policy response The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a global macroeconomic shock unprecedented in peacetime. UK Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 10.4% in the three months from February to April – with monthly output collapsing by 20.4% in April after the lockdown was introduced. As the UK emerges from the initial public health crisis, the economic challenges may intensify as the Government tapers its employee and business support packages. In Oct 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that time is running out to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C. In this context, Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from 2010-2016, explained to the Committee how critical it is that climate change mitigation is at the heart of the post-COVID recovery: "Those rescue packages, US$10 trillion to US$20 trillion, will not only be defined but very likely allotted over the next 18 months. Because of the scale, they will determine the characteristics of national economies and of the global economy for several decades. It is exactly this decade, between 2020 and 2030, where climate science has been lucidly clear that we need to halve our emissions, reduce to 50% the emissions that we have right now." The Committee also heard from Professor Cameron Hepburn, Director of the Economics of Sustainability Programme at the Oxford Martin School, about the potential for green investment to boost the economy, providing more jobs; delivering higher short-term returns per pound spent by Government, and leading to increased long-term cost savings. Global leadership In 2021 the UK will be hosting COP26 and will also hold the G7 Presidency. This provides a platform for the UK to take an international leadership role and galvanise a green and climate-friendly global response to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The Committee’s inquiry will consider how the post-pandemic recovery can be aligned with the UK’s climate and environment goals and the role that the UK can play in driving a green recovery internationally. For further details read the inquiry's Terms of Reference. Show less

29 Recommendations

9 Conclusions

1 Report

3 Oral sessions

4 Letters

4 Events

Activity timeline 10 events

22 Jun
2021

Report published

Second Special Report - Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the economic recovery: Government and Bank of Engl…

17 Feb
2021

Report published

Third Report - Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the economic recovery

17 Feb
2021

Correspondence

Letter from the Bank of England to the Chair on addressing the financial risks of climate change, dated 8 February 2021

25 Jan
2021

Correspondence

Chair to the Governor of the Bank of England, concerning the post-Covid recovery, dated 22 January 2021

14 Jan
2021

Correspondence

Chief Nursing Officer for England to Chair regarding single-use plastics and PPE, dated 18 September 2020

3 Dec
2020

Oral evidence

Panel 1; Panel 2

24 Sep
2020

Formal meeting · Virtual meeting

Greening the Covid recovery: Session 2

23 Jul
2020

Oral evidence

9 Jul
2020

Correspondence

Letter from UK Health Alliance regarding Principles for a Healthy Recovery

21 May
2020

Oral evidence

Environmental Audit Committee

Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions

3 Dec 2020

View on parliament.uk

Panel 1; Panel 2

Andrew Forth · Royal Institute of British Architects Dr Steve Melia · University of the West of England Konstanze Scharring · Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Martha McPherson · Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), University College London (UCL) Professor Jim Hall · National Infrastructure Commission Sarah Gordon · Impact Investing Institute Stephen Fitzpatrick · OVO Energy

23 Jul 2020

View on parliament.uk

Oral evidence

Caterina Brandmayr · Green Alliance Dimitri Zenghelis · Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment Melanie Leech · British Property Federation Richard Benwell · Wildlife and Countryside Link Sue Ferns · Prospect Trade Union Tom Thackray · CBI

21 May 2020

View on parliament.uk

Environmental Audit Committee

Christiana Figueres · United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Professor Cameron Hepburn · University of Oxford Professor Frank Kelly · Imperial College London Professor Kate Jones · University College London Professor Tim Lang · City University London's Centre for Food Policy Steve Waygood · Aviva Investors

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Third Report - Growing back better: putting nature and net zero …	HC 347	17 Feb 2021	38	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

10 results

9 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

We also repeat our recommendation that the Bank writes to each CCFF loan recipient to...

We also repeat our recommendation that the Bank writes to each CCFF loan recipient to alert them that the Government’s Green Finance Strategy expects all listed companies and large asset owners to publish climate-related disclosures not later than

Government Response

The government's response details broader regulatory changes for mandatory climate-related financial disclosures by listed and large private companies but does not address the specific recommendation for the Bank of England to write to CCFF loan recipients to alert them.

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12 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

We welcome the publication of the Ten Point Plan, the National Infrastructure Strategy, and the...

We welcome the publication of the Ten Point Plan, the National Infrastructure Strategy, and the changes to the Green Book criteria for public infrastructure projects. We now call for greater urgency in publishing detailed strategies and policies to allow private … Read more

Government Response

The government details its investments and policies for decarbonising transport, including ending petrol/diesel car sales and funding EVs, but does not specifically address the call for greater urgency in publishing detailed strategies for private sector and industry investment.

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13 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

Infrastructure invested in now will be in use for decades to come.

Infrastructure invested in now will be in use for decades to come. It is essential that all decisions on infrastructure investment are considered against the net zero target, likely impacts on biodiversity and future projections of the changes in climate … Read more

Government Response

The government details its investments and policies for decarbonising transport, including ending petrol/diesel car sales and funding EVs, but does not address the recommendation to make nature recovery integral to all infrastructure plans from the start.

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15 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

We recommend that the Government set out, in its forthcoming transport decarbonisation strategy, what plans...

We recommend that the Government set out, in its forthcoming transport decarbonisation strategy, what plans it has for substantial long-term investment in better public transport and in traffic reduction measures, and how such investment will reduce levels of road congestion, … Read more

Government Response

The government details its investments and policies for decarbonising transport, including ending petrol/diesel car sales and funding EVs, but does not specifically set out its plans for substantial long-term investment in better public transport and traffic reduction measures within the forthcoming strategy.

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16 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

Each project within the Government’s Road Investment Strategy will no doubt be analysed for its...

Each project within the Government’s Road Investment Strategy will no doubt be analysed for its costs and benefits in accordance with Government guidance in the ‘Green Book’, as revised in November 2020. To ensure a green recovery, it is vital … Read more

Government Response

The government details its investments and policies for decarbonising transport, including ending petrol/diesel car sales and funding EVs, but does not address the recommendation for explicit appraisal of Road Investment Strategy projects against environmental commitments before approval.

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17 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

In supporting the development of strategic nationwide communications networks between urban centres, the Government must...

In supporting the development of strategic nationwide communications networks between urban centres, the Government must not overlook the importance to rural communities of hyper-local transport networks. Private car usage on well- maintained rural roads will of necessity continue to form … Read more

Government Response

The government details its investments and policies for decarbonising transport, including ending petrol/diesel car sales and funding EVs, but does not specifically address the importance of hyper-local transport networks or investment in low-carbon infrastructure for rural communities.

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18 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

Changes in ways of working during the pandemic have led to far greater levels of...

Changes in ways of working during the pandemic have led to far greater levels of working from home, in urban and rural areas. This has doubtless reduced commuter car usage in rural areas in particular. Home working can therefore contribute … Read more

Government Response

The government response discusses investments in decarbonising transport, including electric vehicles, cycling, buses, and various low-emission transport technologies, but does not address the recommendation to guarantee access to reliable internet and mobile connectivity.

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20 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

Significant Government investment in the development of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology sends...

Significant Government investment in the development of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology sends an important signal in the run up to COP26 74 Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the economic recovery … Read more

Government Response

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21 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

The Government must publish a hydrogen strategy as soon as possible, setting out clear mechanisms...

The Government must publish a hydrogen strategy as soon as possible, setting out clear mechanisms to support the development of green hydrogen systems in the UK.

Government Response

The government response details investments in various transport decarbonisation technologies, including a Hydrogen Transport Hub, but does not commit to publishing a comprehensive hydrogen strategy as recommended.

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23 Recommendation Not Addressed

Third Report - Growing back better…

The Government must ensure that its ‘build, build, build’ agenda has, at its heart, a...

The Government must ensure that its ‘build, build, build’ agenda has, at its heart, a commitment to delivering truly sustainable development by promoting the construction of low-carbon homes fit for a changing climate. We recommend that the Government introduce embodied … Read more

Government Response

The government highlights several schemes for decarbonising existing buildings and encouraging green homes, but does not address the specific recommendation to introduce embodied carbon targets for the construction of new homes.

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Government Response AI assessment · 38 of 29 classified

Accepted 16

Accepted in Part 3

Acknowledged 3

Deferred 3

Not Addressed 10

Rejected 3

Total 29 recs + 9 conclusions

Correspondence 4 letters

17 Feb 2021 To committee Letter from the Bank of England to the Chair on addressing the financial risks of climate change, dated 8 February 2021

Parliament page

25 Jan 2021 Chair to the Governor of the Bank of England, concerning the post-Covid recovery, dated 22 January 2021

Parliament page

14 Jan 2021 Chief Nursing Officer for England to Chair regarding single-use plastics and PPE, dated 18 September 2020

Parliament page

9 Jul 2020 To committee Letter from UK Health Alliance regarding Principles for a Healthy Recovery

Parliament page