12
Acknowledged
DESNZ Ministers should provide visible cross-government leadership by setting out, in a single, authoritative statement...
Recommendation
DESNZ Ministers should provide visible cross-government leadership by setting out, in a single, authoritative statement within our recommended indicative delivery framework, how departmental policies collectively support delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget. This should include clear objectives, indicative timelines and an explanation of how policies that risk increasing emissions or delaying progress will be mitigated, so that Parliament and the public can assess the coherence and credibility of the Government’s overall approach. However, DESNZ will only have the credibility, capacity and capability to do this if it is explicitly backed by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This includes public statements, clear steers across government and the resources to ensure departments meet their agreed net zero commitments and work together when delivery requires it. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59) 59 Sectoral pathways to delivering the Seventh Carbon Budget
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the importance of cross-government coordination, states that the Prime Minister and Chancellor support DESNZ's role, and will publish a statutory delivery plan for the Seventh Carbon Budget. It will carefully consider the Committee’s specific recommendations for strengthening cross-government delivery when developing this plan.
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government recognises the importance of strong cross-government coordination to support effective delivery of the seventh carbon budget. Decarbonisation impacts are already considered in major decisions, and we have a robust framework that tracks policy delivery on an ongoing basis. This allows us to unblock issues across government and take remedial action where necessary to remain on track. DESNZ’s coordinating role in delivering CB7 and net zero is supported at the centre of government. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are committed to ensuring that departments work together to meet carbon budgets. In line with the requirements set out in the Act, the government will publish a delivery plan for CB7 as soon as reasonably practicable after Parliament has decided on the CB7 budget level. This is to allow adequate time for CB7 policies and proposals to be developed further—noting that the start of the CB7 period will still be 12 years away—and presented in a delivery plan which meets the legal requirements of Section 14 of the Act. The government will consider views expressed by Parliament in the course of considering the CB7 level when preparing this delivery plan. Following the setting of the CB7 level, there will be a cross-government process to develop the delivery plan. Government will carefully consider the Committee’s recommendations for strengthening cross-government delivery.
Source
Committee
Environmental Audit Committee
Inquiry
The Seventh Carbon Budget
Report
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
04 Mar 2026
HC 1327
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.4 yrs
Report published
04 Mar 2026