The Seventh Carbon Budget

Environmental Audit Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 23 Sep 2025 Parliament page
This Environmental Audit Committee inquiry will examine the Climate Change Committee's advice on the Seventh Carbon Budget. It will consider the assumptions and costs underpinning the CCC’s recommendations, explore the balance between emerging and established technologies, the policy choices facing Government, and the potential impacts on households, businesses and the … Read more
27 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
4 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
23 Jun
2026
Correspondence
11 Jun
2026
Report published
4 Mar
2026
Report published
11 Feb
2026
Correspondence
11 Feb
2026
Correspondence
7 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
3 Dec
2025
Oral evidence
12 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
12 Nov
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
7 Jan 2026
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Emma Pinchbeck · Climate Change Committee Nigel Topping · Climate Change Committee Polly Cook · Leeds City Council Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE · Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations Toby Park · Behavioural Insights Team
3 Dec 2025
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Caroline Bragg · Association for Decentralised Energy Claire Dykta · National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) Dr Edmund Hughes · Green Marine Associates Gareth Stace · UK Steel Jonathon Counsell · International Airlines Group Rt Hon Chris Huhne · Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association Tanya Sinclair · Electric Vehicles UK Victoria Whitehouse · UKRI Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge
12 Nov 2025
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Mike Childs · Friends of the Earth Professor Joeri Rogelj · Imperial College Business School and Grantham Institute – Climate Change and Environment Professor Michael Grubb · UCL Sam Hunter Jones · ClientEarth Shaun Spiers · Green Alliance
Title HC No. Published Items Response
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget HC 1327 4 Mar 2026 40 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Bu…
The Government should legislate for the Climate Change Committee’s recommended level of 535 MtCO₂e for...
The Government should legislate for the Climate Change Committee’s recommended level of 535 MtCO₂e for the Seventh Carbon Budget period. However, legislation must be accompanied by strengthened action to address the delivery risks identified in this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32) Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation to propose setting the seventh carbon budget at the Climate Change Committee's recommended level. However, it states that elements for strengthening action to address delivery risks will be carefully considered during the development of the delivery plan.
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16 Conclusion Accepted in Part
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Bu…
Delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget relies on nascent technologies and on greenhouse gas removals,...
Delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget relies on nascent technologies and on greenhouse gas removals, including both land-based approaches and engineered removals, some of which face significant uncertainty over scale, cost, and delivery timescales. While these options are necessary for … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of building resilience and states its plans already prioritise developed technologies, citing the Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate. Regarding Greenhouse Gas Removals, it welcomes a recent independent review, will consider its recommendations in due course, and will set out the role of GGRs in the delivery plan for carbon budgets 4-7.
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18 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Bu…
The Seventh Carbon Budget delivery plan should set out explicit contingency arrangements, identifying in advance...
The Seventh Carbon Budget delivery plan should set out explicit contingency arrangements, identifying in advance how mitigation would be strengthened if nascent technologies or greenhouse gas removals are delayed or underperform. These contingencies should prioritise accelerating proven measures, including energy … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of resilience, stating it already assesses opportunities, explores alternative policies, and prioritizes mature technologies. It welcomes the GGR Independent Review and will consider its recommendations, with the role of GGRs in CB7 and net zero to be set out in the forthcoming delivery plan for carbon budgets 4-7.
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26 Conclusion Accepted in Part
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Bu…
Delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget will depend more than ever on changes in how...
Delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget will depend more than ever on changes in how homes are heated, how people travel, and how energy and goods are used across the economy. We are concerned that, while behaviour change is a … Read more
Government Response
The government describes its existing approach to co-benefits and engagement, stating its commitment to inclusive and participatory approaches. It plans to launch an annual "Energising Britain" event in 2026 and create a new Youth Climate and Nature Panel under the Net Zero Council to embed young people's perspectives.
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27 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Bu…
The Government should treat behaviour change for delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget as a...
The Government should treat behaviour change for delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget as a major national delivery challenge. Meeting this challenge should include sustained political leadership, clear accountability within Government, and coordinated action across departments. The Government should set … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines several existing and new initiatives related to public engagement and participation, including a new annual Energising Britain event in 2026 and a Youth Climate and Nature Panel, but does not explicitly commit to a costed public engagement and delivery plan with clear objectives, milestones, and reporting as requested.
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37 Recommendation Accepted in Part
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Bu…
The Government must place local authorities at the centre of delivery of the Seventh Carbon...
The Government must place local authorities at the centre of delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget by: • legislating for a clear statutory duty for local authorities in relation to net zero delivery; and • providing long-term, predictable funding to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the essential role of local authorities and outlines £5 billion in funding for low-income households, with plans to integrate schemes from 2027/28 and establish a Warm Homes Agency. However, regarding a statutory duty for local authorities in net zero delivery, they are only aware of LGA consultations and plan to discuss findings and develop a framework, not legislate.
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Government Response AI assessment · 40 of 27 classified
Accepted 20
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 12
Deferred 2
Total 27 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
23 Jun 2026 To committee Letter from the Minister of Climate relating to The Seventh Carbon Budget, 22 June
Parliament page
11 Feb 2026 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to data centres and the Carbon Budget, 11 January
Parliament page
11 Feb 2026 To committee Letter from the Chair of the Climate Change Committee, Nigel Topping CMG, relating to Oral Evidence given to the Environmental Audit Committee, 7 January
Parliament page
12 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to the Government’s Plan for meeting Carbon Budgets 4-6, 29 October 2025
Parliament page