UK Inquiry Tracker

Achieving Net Zero

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 17 Dec 2020 Closed: 17 May 2021 Parliament page

In June 2019, government committed in law to achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to deliver on the commitments it made in signing the Paris Agreement in 2016. Government also aimed to set an example for other countries to follow in the run-up to hosting the 26th United … Read more In June 2019, government committed in law to achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to deliver on the commitments it made in signing the Paris Agreement in 2016. Government also aimed to set an example for other countries to follow in the run-up to hosting the 26th United Nations’ Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), now due to take place in Glasgow in November 2021, having been postponed from November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aiming for net zero represents an increase in the level of ambition from government’s previous 2008 emissions reduction target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, compared with 1990 levels, by 2050. Between 2008 and 2018, the UK’s emissions reduced by 28%, faster than any other G20 economy. The NAO has recently described reducing emissions further, to achieve net zero, as a “colossal challenge” that will require wide-ranging changes to the UK economy, including further investment in renewable electricity generation, as well as changing the way people travel, how land is used and how buildings are heated. The UK’s emissions are currently projected to exceed government’s targets for the years 2023 to 2027 and 2028 to 2032, though government plans to announce policies aimed at closing these gaps. Even faster progress is needed to get to net zero by 2050, including changes to the way electricity is generated, how people travel, how land is used and how buildings are heated. The costs of achieving net zero are highly uncertain. The Climate Change Committee estimated in 2019 that the annual costs of achieving net zero could increase over time, to around 1-2% of GDP in 2050. BEIS is developing its own estimates of what net zero will cost between now and 2050, with this likely to be hundreds of billions of pounds. HM Treasury will investigate how these costs could fall between government, businesses and individuals, as part of a review which will conclude in 2021. However, the costs of inaction would be far greater because of the need to adapt to substantial climate change, such as building flood defences and dealing with the health impacts of higher temperatures. The Climate Change Committee has suggested there are also wider benefits of achieving net zero, such as improvements to human health and enhanced biodiversity. This inquiry will build on the Committee’s work on how well Government is organised to deliver long term environmental goals . The Committee will question senior officials at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Treasury, on plans and readiness to achieve net zero by 2050. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit it here by 6pm on Thursday 21 January 2021. Show less

9 Recommendations

14 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

3 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 6 events

18 Nov
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Steve Field Director, Climate, Energy and Environment, HM Treasury, re written update on the Net Zero Announcement at A…

31 Aug
2021

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-sixth report from Session 2019-21

18 May
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Tom Scholar, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury, re Forty Sixth report of session 2019-2021 – Achieving Net Zero

5 Mar
2021

Report published

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net Zero

23 Feb
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, re Response …

28 Jan
2021

Oral evidence

Achieving Net Zero

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

28 Jan 2021

View on parliament.uk

Achieving Net Zero

Julian Critchlow · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Steve Field · HM Treasury

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net Zero	HC 935	5 Mar 2021	23	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

8 results

3 Recommendation Acknowledged

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

HM Treasury has not yet clarified how it will ensure net zero is given adequate...

HM Treasury has not yet clarified how it will ensure net zero is given adequate weight in the assessment of government policies and projects. Achieving net zero will be an all-encompassing challenge requiring all parts of government to contribute to … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees with the recommendation but describes existing Spending Review guidance, ongoing reviews of learning, and future publications, without specifically outlining the requested details on ensuring net zero consideration, stress-testing, and skills development across Whitehall.

HM Treasury

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9 Conclusion Acknowledged

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

We asked what the Department was doing to ensure that it would be able to...

We asked what the Department was doing to ensure that it would be able to track progress towards net zero when responsibility was shared across departments. The Department told us that the new coordination structures provided it with clarity on … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees with the underlying sentiment of tracking progress, referring to existing annual 'Energy and Emissions Projections' and committing to set out more detailed metrics for tracking progress in a comprehensive Net Zero Strategy.

HM Treasury

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10 Conclusion

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

We asked the Department about the recent decision to allow deep coal mining in Whitehaven,...

We asked the Department about the recent decision to allow deep coal mining in Whitehaven, Cumbria and how this aligned with the government’s intention to move away from depending on fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources. The Department told … Read more

HM Treasury

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11 Conclusion Acknowledged

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

Net zero is an all-encompassing challenge that will affect every part of government.

Net zero is an all-encompassing challenge that will affect every part of government. It will not be achieved if it is not sufficiently prioritised when departments make decisions that could impact on greenhouse gas emissions.18 We asked whether other departmental … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees with the underlying sentiment, explaining that Spending Review 2020 guidance required departments to include emissions of bids and that HM Treasury is reviewing learning from this exercise for future spending reviews.

HM Treasury

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13 Conclusion Acknowledged

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

We asked what impact measures such as the Green Book guidance had on major infrastructure...

We asked what impact measures such as the Green Book guidance had on major infrastructure projects like High Speed 2. The Department told us that departments were each responsible for ensuring that the projects within their areas remained below their … Read more

Government Response

HM Treasury

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14 Conclusion Acknowledged

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

We asked the Treasury why, in its updated Green Book, it had not introduced a...

We asked the Treasury why, in its updated Green Book, it had not introduced a specific requirement for policies to explain how they aligned with net zero. The Treasury told us that the guidance already required Departments to consider greenhouse … Read more

Government Response

HM Treasury

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20 Conclusion

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

Government investment in new technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, could benefit particular regions...

Government investment in new technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, could benefit particular regions of the UK and support the government’s levelling up agenda, which aims to create opportunity for everyone in all regions and address disparities in economic … Read more

HM Treasury

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23 Conclusion Acknowledged

Forty-Sixth Report - Achieving Net…

The Department acknowledged that it needed to consider place-related aspects to achieving net zero and...

The Department acknowledged that it needed to consider place-related aspects to achieving net zero and how local authorities could be involved in co-ordinating the changes needed in areas such as transport and energy.42 The Department told the National 36 Qq … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees a clearer statement of national, regional, and local responsibilities is needed and will provide a more comprehensive statement on local authority engagement within the Net Zero Strategy, building on existing collaboration.

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 21 of 9 classified

Accepted 13

Acknowledged 6

Not Addressed 2

Total 9 recs + 14 conclusions

Correspondence 3 letters

18 Nov 2021 Correspondence from Steve Field Director, Climate, Energy and Environment, HM Treasury, re written update on the Net Zero Announcement at Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021, dated 16 November 2021

Parliament page

18 May 2021 Correspondence from Tom Scholar, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury, re Forty Sixth report of session 2019-2021 – Achieving Net Zero

Parliament page

23 Feb 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, re Response to the Committee regarding January 28 ‘Achieving Net Zero’ Public Account Committee hearing / New licences in regard to the cutting of emissions in half by 2030, dated 10th February 2021

Parliament page