The UK government has pushed back against criticisms lodged by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), insisting it remains committed to the country’s net zero target but must take a more pragmatic and proportionate approach. The CCC published its 2023 progress report in June, claiming that its confidence on the government’s delivery against its climate targets has fallen markedly over the past 12 months, outlining a series of recommendations to get back on track. The government’s response, published 26 October, revealed that it would not be taking forward CCC recommendations that may force the public to make “burdensome” changes to their lifestyles. Additionally, the government also dismissed the CCC’s recommendations to assess the emissions impact of recent green policy rowbacks, publish a decarbonisation roadmap for iron and steel, impose further restrictions on new coal mine developments, and strengthen climate compatibility tests for oil and gas drilling projects. It also maintained its support for new oil and gas production in the North Sea. Separately, the government also published its response to the CCC’s 2023 adaptation progress report.
