Skidmore Review
Mission Zero: Independent Review of Net Zero
Independent review of the UK government's approach to delivering its 2050 net zero target, examining whether policies are pro-business and pro-growth. Made 129 recommendations across ten missions including a '25 by 2025' framework of priority actions.
129recommendations
129Not Yet Responded
Government Response
Government published response alongside the Powering Up Britain Net Zero Delivery Plan in March 2023, accepting the direction of travel. Chris Skidmore subsequently resigned the Conservative whip in protest at government net zero policy.
30 March 2023
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
Government should publish an overarching financing strategy covering how existing and future government spending, policies, and regulation will scale up private finance to deliver the UK’s net zero enabled growth and energy security ambitions. This should include setting out the role of UKIB, BBB, BII, and IPA and UKEF in the transition.
Recommendation 10
Government to review how often it publishes data on UK emissions – and represent this alongside GDP.
Recommendation 100
Government should commit to the Local Electricity Bill and publish a Community Energy Strategy that addresses regulatory, legislative, funding and capacity barriers in the sector. The Strategy should also consider what support should be given to innovative projects such as community purchasing and community energy sharing and storage.
Recommendation 101
Government to publish a public engagement plan for England by 2023, to ramp up public engagement on net zero.
Recommendation 102
Government to run a competition to create a Carbon Calculator to inform consumers of the carbon intensity of different choices, in 2023.
Recommendation 103
Government to pursue ecolabelling to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions, by 2025.
Recommendation 104
Government should develop the distributional analysis of net zero policies started by the Review in 2023.
Recommendation 105
Government should amend the regulatory framework to incentivise transport providers to increase demand and improve services, and that it works with them on this vision, by 2024.
Recommendation 106
Government to equalise VAT on public and private electric vehicle charging in 2024.
Recommendation 107
Government should regulate through a suite of measures to create the conditions for sustained growth of new markets for low-carbon heat, so that at least 600,000 heat pumps are installed each year by 2028, and up to 1.9 million by 2033. The Government should implement the off- gas grid regulations that envisage the end of new and replacement fossil fuel heating systems in the mid-2020s.
Recommendation 108
Government should bring forward all consultations and work to mandate the Future Homes Standards by 2025 to prevent further delays by ensuring the standard applies to all developments. This should include a consultation on mandating new homes to be built with solar and deliver the Net Zero Homes Standard, ensuring that the planning system (discussed in Pillar 4) is flexible enough to enable this.
Recommendation 109
2030 Government should ensure the right policies are in place to achieve the UK's demand reduction targets, building on the 2022 Autumn Statement announcement, with interim targets and milestones to hit this goal. Noting the UK's 2050 net zero ambitions the government should publish clear analysis of which mix of policy measures gets the UK to the 15% target and assure future funding for those policies.
Recommendation 11
Government should work with OBR and CCC to set out a process for how it will ensure the climate impacts of fiscal decision making are considered. It should commit to publishing the climate impacts of future spending reviews.
Recommendation 110
Government should expand its energy efficiency advice service in 2023, ensuring that it helps consumers to access qualified traders and providers in local areas.
Recommendation 111
Government should support establishing retrofit hubs by 2025 to bridge the gap between households and suppliers. These could enable installers to seek training and impartial advice and could connect households to suitable installers.
Recommendation 112
Government should mandate that EPCs are updated on a regular basis, using a new metric which better reflects current relative costs of heat pump and accounts for wider benefits from low-carbon heating systems. Under this new metric, EPC ratings could become a more holistic Net Zero Performance Certificate (NZPC), giving consumers more detailed information about the heating technology used in the property and its associated financial and social effects.
Recommendation 113
Government should provide certainty by 2024 on the new and replacement gas boiler phase out date to drive industry and investor confidence. The Review recommends bringing the proposed date of 2035 forward and legislating for 2033. Government should set a legislative target for gas free homes and appliances by 2033, to contribute to a gas free grid in future. Government should legislate for all homes sold by 2033 to also have an EPC rating of C or above in line with the aforementioned NZPC, with exclusions around certain properties (e.g. listed properties, on grounds of affordability). Government should also mandate landlords to include ‘average bill cost’ alongside the EPC (and possible future NZPC) rating, when letting a property out. This will help renters understand what costs to expect, while also helping to put a premium on energy efficient homes.
Recommendation 114
Government should consider options to support homes to include roof solar panels installation as part of its retrofit provision to support homes reaching the Net Zero Homes Standard.
Recommendation 115
Government should include an Energy Efficiency Taskforce workstream on green finance products to report by end of 2023. This should help to support those in low EPC rated properties to carry out green home upgrades and should identify opportunities to crowd-in private finance, alongside public funding.
Recommendation 116
Government should deliver the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator to catalyse private investment for at least two major heat pump factories in the UK.
Recommendation 117
Government should choose from multiple options which could help increase heat pump efficiency: 1. Suppliers say this could be done via a mandate stating the minimum efficiency which needs to be achieved by all installations. Government should test whether this could be done by most major installers for most properties. 2. Set up a heat pump coefficient of performance competition, run for example by the Energy Efficiency taskforce. This will show the state of the art technologies with higher efficiencies and allow others to replicate these. 3. Quality of the installation matters; training and installation standards need to be accelerated to support this.
Recommendation 118
Government should extend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028 and consider whether grant levels should be increased in light of inflationary pressures, before being scaled down over time. This should happen alongside efforts to increase awareness of government support. Support for those unable to afford the upfront costs associated with improving energy efficiency and moving to low carbon heating systems should be continued and expanded, namely through the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG), Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and other existing schemes for low-income households.
Recommendation 119
Government should set the policy framework and supportive investment environment to encourage reskilling and greater training opportunities in the heat pump sector and work to encourage adoption of standards to increase firms able to take up existing schemes.
Recommendation 12
Government to commission the ONS and/or UKRI to lead an engagement exercise with business to define their data needs and develop bespoke recommendations to address these.
Recommendation 120
Government should create a roadmap, by Autumn 2023, which details decision points for developing and deploying R&D and technologies that are critical for enabling the net zero pathway to 2050.
Recommendation 121
By Autumn 2023, Government should review how to incentivise greater R&D for net zero, including considering the role of clarity on research priorities and government support, tax credits, greater ring-fencing of R&D spend, and enabling regulations.
Recommendation 122
Government should establish up to three new R&D demonstrator projects, out to 2035, aligning with the ten- year missions set out by this Review. These should be considered when creating the overarching R&D and technology roadmap.
Recommendation 123
OSTS, GOS 2023 Government should include in forthcoming work from OSTS how regulators can provide more opportunity for demonstrations for net zero technologies.
Recommendation 124
Government should progress with the consultation on carbon leakage measures and speed up decision-making to enable Government to implement effective carbon leakage mitigations from 2026.
Recommendation 125
By 2024, Government should work within the UK ETS Authority to develop a pathway for the UK ETS until 2040. This pathway should: a) Set out a vision on the future design and operation of the ETS b) Set out a timeline for expanding the coverage to the rest of the UK economy, as well as sectors consulted on including maritime and waste. c) Address inclusion of GGRs to incentivise early investment in new technologies and potentially nature- based solutions. d) Provide reassurance to businesses around how the Government will mitigate the risk of carbon leakage as a result of expanding the ETS.
Recommendation 126
Government should endorse international VCM standards as soon as possible and consult on formally adopting regulated standards for VCMs and setting up a regulator for carbon credits and offsets by 2024.
Recommendation 127
Government should set up a programme for offsets and carbon credits, providing guidance to businesses looking to invest in carbon credits and offsets, for businesses looking to provide carbon credits and offsets, and explore the opportunities to create a market in the UK for offsets through energy efficiency measures
Recommendation 128
Government should establish baseline environmental and climate protections in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and for removal of trade barriers to environmental goods and services
Recommendation 129
Government should conduct a strategic review of the UK's international climate leadership and ensure the 2030 Strategic Framework on Climate and Nature provides practical direction for the UK's international climate and nature leadership.
Recommendation 13
Carry out competitiveness analysis for clean technologies setting out the UK’s export and import strategies and where it intends to develop leadership - and utilise this to clarify for investors and industry the UK’s current green industrial policy
Recommendation 14
Government to endorse and implement the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards as soon as possible. The UK should lead by example, launching a formal adoption mechanism as soon as the ISSB standards are published and moving swiftly to assess and endorse the standards for use in the UK. The UK should aim for 2024/25 as the first sustainability reporting cycle for companies in scope, encouraging companies to apply the ISSB’s standards voluntarily in 2023/24.
Recommendation 15
UK to continue its pioneering work in transition plan disclosures led by the UK Transition Plan Taskforce, share them internationally, and once more developed, Transition Plan Taskforce standards to be made mandatory for both listed and private firms to ensure comparable disclosure standards across the economy, in line with previous government commitment.
Recommendation 16
and Defra 2023 To ensure government facilitates sufficient investment in transition economic activity, investors need information on transition pathways to put transition plans into context, as well as common categories and definitions on what economic activities are aligned with the transition to net zero. Government to consider the appropriateness of a transition taxonomy (alongside a green taxonomy) that is simple and proportionate; and work with international partners to ensure the UK approach is interoperable and harmonised with others’ approaches.
Recommendation 17
Government to consider the adoption of a Net Zero Charter Mark – a mark to acknowledge “best in class” among firms in terms of their role in the transition to net zero.
Recommendation 18
The Government should, by autumn 2023, undertake net zero infrastructure and technology critical supply chain analyses to inform decisions at the next Spending Review on where support akin to the Automotive Transformation Fund could add value.
Recommendation 19
Government and Ofgem should work with network companies to facilitate anticipatory investments in grid infrastructure
Recommendation 2
At the next Spending Review, government should review options for providing longer-term certainty to a small number of major priorities for net zero – where we know that long-term policy commitment will be essential for success and provide long-term opportunities to save money.
Recommendation 20
Government should update Ofgem’s remit to incorporate the Government’s net zero target as set out in the 2008 Climate Change Act.
Recommendation 21
Government should develop a long-term cross-sectoral infrastructure strategy by 2025, to adapt and build respectively the distribution of liquid and gaseous fuels, electricity and CO2 networks over the next decade.
Recommendation 22
Government should commit to outlining a clear approach to gas vs. electricity ‘rebalancing’ by the end of 2023/4 (depending on the fossil fuel prices), and should make significant progress affecting relative prices by the end of 2024. In outlining this approach, ensure that the distribution of the costs which make up energy bills are passed through to consumers, through their suppliers, in a way which is fair, affordable, and supports competition, decarbonisation and economic growth
Recommendation 23
Government should deliver REMA as a priority, to scale up electricity sector investment, unlock the benefits of renewables, reward flexibility and maintain security of supply.
Recommendation 24
Government, regulators and industry should set up taskforces and develop deployment roadmaps for onshore wind and solar respectively in 2023 to reach required deployment levels for 2035 net zero grid, following the example of the offshore wind sector.
Recommendation 25
Government should work with regulators, devolved administrations, local authorities, industry and key stakeholders to streamline the planning and environmental permitting processes to ensure new power generation can come online as soon as possible.
Recommendation 26
Government, regulators and industry should set up a taskforce and deployment roadmaps with clear milestones to reach up to 70GW by 2035.
Recommendation 27
Government to assess how low-cost finance options can be provided to households and small businesses
Recommendation 28
Government to ensure there is clear guidance to support case-by-case decisions, for example on sensitive issues such as siting and to allow new, innovative solutions, instead of technology-specific restrictions
Recommendation 29
Build up UK capability and provide the necessary training and certification.
Recommendation 3
Government to lead a bespoke consultation on funding scheme design – with a ministerial champion – to report on the issues and recommend reforms to government
Recommendation 30
Government, regulators and industry to set up a taskforce and develop roadmap with clear milestones for onshore wind to reach required deployment level for 2035 net zero grid.
Recommendation 31
Build up UK capability and provide the necessary training and certification.
Recommendation 32
Government should implement reforms set out in the British Energy Security Strategy to double down on achieving the UK’s nuclear baseload requirement • Expedite the set-up of Great British Nuclear (GBN) in early 2023, ensuring required funding and skills are in place. • Government and GBN to set out clear roadmap in 2023, including interim targets to reach 2050 ambition. Government to ensure funding is in place. As part of the roadmap, government should assess the possibility to increase the current ambitions supporting the development of supply chain to service a fleet of projects. • Roadmap to set out clear pathways for different nuclear technologies (including small modular reactors) and the selection process. This should consider how to use programmatic approach to deliver further cost reductions in a competitive environment. Government to deliver on siting strategy by 2024.
Recommendation 33
Government should ensure Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has necessary capacity to progress applications. Government to explore potential to reduce timelines through international cooperation that would allow recognition of approvals by partner countries.
Recommendation 34
Government should work with GBN and industry on UK supply chain & skills. This includes: • On basis of the roadmap, identify key issues and potential dependencies to address; • Agree commitment to boost resilience of UK supply chain and monitor supply chain; • Build UK capacity and skills, provide the necessary training and certification and explore synergies with other sectors.
Recommendation 35
Government should ensure continued funding and support for new technologies such as advanced modular reactors (AMRs) and fusion that could play an important role in the future. Government should consider how a programme- approach could be used to drive down costs for AMRs in a competitive setting. Government should also look at the opportunities the nuclear industry provides outside the power sector, for example heat or hydrogen.
Recommendation 36
By 2024, government should set a strategy for its market for flexible capacity, including pathways for different technologies to 2035.
Recommendation 37
Government should continue to set ambitious targets for the remaining years of the four-year smart meter framework
Recommendation 38
Ofgem should maintain focus on a timely implementation of its market-wide half-hourly settlement.
Recommendation 39
By the end of 2023, the government should develop and implement an ambitious and pragmatic '10 year’ delivery roadmap for the scaling up of hydrogen production. This roadmap should include detail on the plan for Track-2 decisions and should also include clear indication of how much capacity government hopes to procure through each future allocation round, including for electrolytic hydrogen, and how the UK will support growth of the electrolyser supply chain.
Recommendation 4
Government to establish a new forum to coordinate across all regulators on the signals they are sending to businesses and investors across sectors about the net zero transition – including Ofwat, Ofgem, HSE, Environment Agency, Competition and Markets Authority, FCA, and the North Sea Transition Authority
Recommendation 40
Government should deliver transport and storage business models as soon as feasibly possible and take a pragmatic approach to support key ‘no regrets’ transport and storage projects.
Recommendation 41
Future System Operator (FSO) should take forward a role in setting out a system plan for hydrogen, considering the interactions between hydrogen storage and balancing renewables for the decarbonised grid. Government, with advice from the FSO, takes decisive leadership on naming priority areas for minimum viable pipeline and storage infrastructure, providing strategic direction that shows how we will link up demand and supply. We need early identification of strategic assets that are critical enablers of other infrastructure and therefore require at risk investment.
Recommendation 42
Government should continue the hydrogen heating community trials, to inform decisions on the role hydrogen can play in heating. Additionally, by the end of 2023, government should update its analysis of the whole system costs of the mass roll out of hydrogen for heating, in order to ensure that the case for economic optimality and feasibility still holds.
Recommendation 43
Government should publish its Biomass Strategy as soon as possible
Recommendation 44
Accelerate the end to routine flaring from 2030 to 2025.
Recommendation 45
Government should ensure all new oil or gas fields have abatement built in now to avoid backwards engineering when they are electrified
Recommendation 46
Government should ensure the Climate Compatibility Checkpoint is an effective tool to shape policymaking
Recommendation 47
Government should consider setting fossil fuel producers operating domestically a 10% storage obligation target to restore carbon dioxide to the geosphere by at least 2035, separate to any investment on nature-based solutions.
Recommendation 48
2050 Government should recognise the importance of geological net zero and work to align international ambitions toward geo zero by 2050, in line with net zero.
Recommendation 49
The 2023 consultation on the long-term tax treatment of the North Sea must include an option to create a hypothecated net zero fund
Recommendation 5
Government should conduct and publish, before Autumn 2023, a review of how we should change regulation for emerging net zero technologies to enable their rapid and safe introduction, to support the net zero transition and boost growth
Recommendation 50
Dependent on the response to the consultation, by the end of 2026, HMT should set out a long-term plan for replacing the Energy Profits Levy with a ‘Net Zero Fund’ that clearly ringfences revenue for investment into clean offshore technologies and/or energy efficiency improvements
Recommendation 51
Greater transparency and data from industry on the carbon intensity of oil and gas (O&G) imports, and also from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) and industry on O&G that is produced.
Recommendation 52
Government should publish an offshore industries integrated strategy by the end of 2024 which should include roles and responsibilities for electrification of oil and gas infrastructure, how the planning and consenting regime will operate, a plan for how the system will be regulated, timetables and sequencing for the growth and construction of infrastructure, and a skills and supply chain plan for growth of the integrated industries.
Recommendation 53
As soon as legislation allows, government must finalise the business models and regulatory frameworks across the value chain, including for industrial CCS, Energy from Waste with CCS and CO2 transport and storage.
Recommendation 54
In 2023, HMT should set out the funding envelope available to support Track-1 clusters
Recommendation 55
In 2023, government must act quickly to re-envisage and implement a clear CCUS roadmap, showing the plan beyond 2030. As part of the roadmap, government should take a pragmatic approach to cluster selection. This means allowing the most advanced clusters to progress more quickly. The roadmap should include: • Approach to confirming the pipeline of capture projects, at least up to 2030, that will receive future funding, not limited to Track 1 cluster locations. In doing so, it should set out the process and timeline for Track 2 cluster selection; • Greater clarity on planned investment for CO2 transport and storage, including a streamlined route to market for future CO2 storage sites and a plan for making economic licenses more readily available to those that have safety licenses for CCUS acreage already; • The plan for ensuring our supply chain and skills can meet demand
Recommendation 56
By 2024, government must develop a strategy for the plan for non-pipeline transport and how dispersed sites and mini clusters can connect to the CCS network and what support should be offered for doing so.
Recommendation 57
Government should announce, as soon as is possible, its intentions for engineered GGR business models including timings and eligibility. This announcement must clearly outline what standards these business models are expected to require.
Recommendation 58
By Autumn 2023 HMT should review how policy incentivises investment in decarbonisation, including via the tax system and capital allowances.
Recommendation 59
Government should drive forward delivery of the recommendations of the Green Jobs Taskforce and the commitments from the Net Zero Strategy. Government to publish an action plan for Net Zero skills that includes a comprehensive roadmap of when, where, and in which sectors there will be skills needs specific to net zero. Government should look to report on progress made to delivering the recommendations on a regular basis, starting by mid-2023.
Recommendation 6
New ‘Net Zero select committees’ should be created in both Houses of Parliament.
Recommendation 60
To monitor progress against the just transition, Government should swiftly develop robust regional green jobs statistics (ideally at local authority level, at least for England), breakdowns of green jobs considering protected characteristics, and publish information about salary levels.
Recommendation 61
GJDG/ DfE 2023 Government and the Green Jobs Delivery Group should explore a variety of targeted options, including: • Increasing the flexibility of the Apprenticeship Levy, and assessing whether the Levy aligns with Government net zero and growth priorities, whether shorter, more intensive courses should be available alongside exploring the role of T levels • Options for retaining talent within businesses and access to international labour
Recommendation 62
Legislate by 2025 the minimum energy efficiency rating to EPC B for all non-domestic buildings, both rented and owned, by 2030. Legislate for EPC B rating for all new non-domestic buildings from 2025.
Recommendation 63
Government to drive the creation of sustainable material supply chains and influence market development through its public procurement standards by 2027
Recommendation 64
UK to continue to show leadership through ambitious public sector decarbonisation by conducting its own trials to ensure alignment with the targets in the Heat and Buildings and Net Zero Strategies
Recommendation 65
Building on the UK Business Climate Hub, Government should launch a ‘Help to Grow Green’ campaign, offering information, resources and vouchers for SMEs to plan and invest in the transition by 2024.
Recommendation 66
Government should develop an SME role models programme, which provides mentoring for micro businesses and the self-employed by 2023.
Recommendation 67
Government should establish a taskforce of suppliers, small business landlords and business groups to agree on how to cut energy use in rented premises by 2023.
Recommendation 68
Review how the UK can become the most competitive financial centre for green and transition listings, capital raising and project financing; to include reviewing prospectus and listing regimes to encourage integrity and growth in the market for green finance instruments, exploring new opportunities arising for professional services, climate and nature data and analytics and innovative product development.
Recommendation 69
Through its update to the Green Finance Strategy, Government should set out a clear, robust and ambitious approach to disclosure, standard setting, and scaling up green finance – including how it will meet existing commitments to implement Sustainable Disclosure Requirements across the economy; how it will provide a clear, long-term plan for attracting capital to meet net zero ambitions, and how to maintain the UK's position as the leading green finance hub internationally and metrics for success.
Recommendation 7
Government to establish an ‘Office for Net Zero Delivery’ by Spring 2023, to ensure that the cross-departmental priorities for net zero are properly managed.
Recommendation 70
Government should develop a policy proposal to incentivise on-site generation in Manufacturing by Q2 2024, with options to consult on the funding formula required by the public and private sector to reach the tipping point of adoption.
Recommendation 71
Government should progress its consultation on carbon leakage measures, including a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and mandatory product standards by 2023. This will enable Government to implement effective carbon leakage mitigations from 2026.
Recommendation 72
Government to develop a public procurement plan for low- carbon construction and the use of low-carbon materials, by the end of 2023.
Recommendation 73
decarbonisation of non-road mobile machinery by the end of 2023.
Recommendation 74
Deliver urgently on commitments that the UK has already made on collection and packaging reforms, including extended producer responsibility, standardised collection and deposit return schemes. Industry engagement must be central to design and rollout of schemes.
Recommendation 75
Launch a task force to work jointly with industry to identify barriers and enablers and develop sector-specific circular economy business models for priority sectors. This should have representation from BEIS, Defra, DLUHC, HMT and DIT, and include the role of extended producer responsibility in promoting reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and rental alongside recycling, in line with the powers under the Environment Act 2021.
Recommendation 76
End export of UK plastic waste by 2027, and in parallel set an end date for the import of recycled plastic chips, subject to the UK’s international legal responsibilities. To drive domestic demand for high-quality recycled materials, ratchet up minimum percentage recycled content targets for a range of products in consultation with industry.
Recommendation 77
Delivering UK recycling infrastructure capacity in key areas. Areas to consider include: • plastic processing capacity (an additional one million tonnes) • domestic capabilities in the circular economy of critical minerals • the necessary infrastructure to support textile collection and fibre recycling. In doing this, the Government should consider the expected profile of private sector investment in building UK recycling infrastructure - and explore opportunities to further enable such investment if current expectations fall short of domestic need.
Recommendation 78
Task WRAP with developing a report jointly for the BEIS and Defra Secretaries of State to understand the right role for Government in supporting resource matching across the private sector, learning from e.g. Invest NI and the National Industrial Symbiosis Partnership. This must ensure resource planning to achieve symbiosis rather than just waste exchange.
Recommendation 79
Government to swiftly deliver the ZEV mandate, to apply from 2024, while maintaining regulations and funding to support the uptake of electric and other zero emission vehicles, and continuing to drive emission reductions from internal combustion engines
Recommendation 8
Government to consider the case for creating new separate delivery agencies to deliver long-term decarbonisation programmes.
Recommendation 80
Government to publish the Low Carbon Fuels Strategy in 2023 and the necessary legislation for the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) mandate to apply from 2025. Recognising that an adequate price stability mechanism is vital for investments in SAF, government to set out evidence for barriers to SAF investments and options to address this.
Recommendation 81
Government to set out options for further legislative steps by 2024 and take a leading role in International Maritime Organization (IMO) negotiations to decarbonise the maritime sector.
Recommendation 82
Government should continue to work with industry to set out a clear programme by 2024 to accelerate decarbonisation of the wider freight sector through modal shift and deployment of new technologies, building on the Future of Freight Plan
Recommendation 83
Government to reduce delays to anticipated reforms by bringing forward the delayed Future of Transport Bill this Parliament.
Recommendation 84
Government to publish a Land Use framework as soon as possible, and by mid-2023.
Recommendation 85
Government to publish full details of all Environmental Land Management Schemes and future plans by the end of 2023 - with a particular focus on how participants can take advantage of both public and private finance
Recommendation 86
By 2025, Government to ensure that 50% of UK-based food and drink businesses measure and report their scope 3 emissions against a government- and industry-agreed standard. Defra and UKRI research should prioritise innovations that support on-farm measurement and processes to accurately collect the remainder by 2030.
Recommendation 87
Natural England - Deliver accurate monitoring of carbon across broader range of ecosystems, with a view to bringing more habitats into the inventory to drive habitat creation and restoration efforts
Recommendation 88
delivery bodies) 2023 In line with wider thinking on voluntary carbon and ecosystem markets, ensure a pipeline of investable nature- based solutions projects is available
Recommendation 89
BEIS to work with DCMS and DIT to develop a campaign by Q2 2023 to promote digital technologies, including AI, robotics, digital twins, and autonomous systems, as a solution to industry’s energy efficiency needs in the short term and their role in wider decarbonisation for the long term.
Recommendation 9
Government to significantly expand its public reporting on net zero - potentially either through the ONS's climate portal or developed in partnership with the CCC. This will act as a tool both for public communication and greater scrutiny of government’s progress towards net zero. It should set out regular and publicly accessible data on key progress indicators.
Recommendation 90
BEIS to include digitisation and the related energy demand change forecasts in Energy and Emission Projections by 2023.
Recommendation 91
Central government should introduce a statutory duty for local authorities to take account of the UK’s net zero targets, based on a clear framework of local roles and responsibilities.
Recommendation 92
Central government should simplify the net zero funding landscape for all local authorities by the next Spending Review. This should include consolidating different funding pots, reducing competitive bidding processes, giving longer lead-in times where bidding remains and providing funding over the medium- rather than the short-term.
Recommendation 93
Central government should establish local net zero missions in 2023 for a number of key policy areas to encourage places to go further and faster.
Recommendation 94
Central government should establish core principles for future net zero devolution and ensure that all devolution deals agreed between now and 2030 have a strong net zero element.
Recommendation 95
Central government should fully back at least one Trailblazer Net Zero city, local authority and community, with the aim for these places to reach net zero by 2030.
Recommendation 96
Central government should provide guidance, reporting mechanisms and additional capacity and capability support to enable local authorities to better monitor and report their net zero progress.
Recommendation 97
Central and local government should work together to convene an annual Local Climate Summit that helps to share best practice, attract green investment and provides an opportunity for areas to update on their Locally Determined Contributions.
Recommendation 98
Central government should reform the local planning system and the NPPF now. Have a clearer vision on net zero with the intention to introduce a net zero test, give clarity on when local areas can exceed national standards, give guidance on LAEP, encourage greater use of spatial planning and the creation of Net Zero Neighbourhood plans, and set out a framework for community benefits.
Recommendation 99
Government should undertake a rapid review of the bottlenecks for net zero and energy efficiency projects in the planning system, and ensure that local planning authorities are properly resourced to deliver faster turnaround times.