UK policies on net zero failing, say advisers

The government is failing to enact the policies needed to reach the UK's net zero targets, its statutory advisers have said, in a damning progress report to parliament.

- Fiona Harvey

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) voiced fears that ministers may renege on the legally binding commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, noting "major policy failures" and "scant evidence of delivery".

Lord Deben, the chair of the committee and a former Conservative environment secretary, said the government had set strong targets on cutting emissions but 2 → policy to achieve them was lacking. "The government has willed the ends, but not the means," he said. "This report showed that present plans will not fulfil the commitments [to net zero]."

He said net-zero policies were also the best way to cut the cost of living. Average household bills would be about £125 lower today if previous plans on green energy and energy efficiency had been followed through. "If you want to deal with the cost of living crisis, this is exactly what you need to do," he said. The greatest failure was the insulation policy, Deben said.