A report by the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned that there are still significant gaps in the UK government’s net zero policy, including sustainable land use and the energy efficiency of buildings. Detailed plans and strategies are still required for waste management, agriculture and achieving full decarbonisation of electricity generation by 2035, the CCC said. The report has also recommended taking action to address the rising cost of living that is aligned with the country’s existing net zero targets. It has also highlighted that the government has yet to publish a public net zero engagement strategy in the three years since it was promised through legislation. The Treasury has also not set out how the full range of costs and benefits of the transition will be shared fairly and it is unclear how central, devolved and local government will operate coherently towards the net zero goal. The report said tangible progress is lagging policy ambition, and aside from the “very positive” uptake in electric cars and increase in renewable electricity, the report does not believe sufficient progress is being made in a wide range of areas.
Today, we publish our latest assessment of UK progress in reducing emissions. Emissions rose 4% in 2021 – now is the time to move from ambition to the delivery of promised action to tackle #climatechange. Read our new report: https://t.co/ska9Pa4wzw pic.twitter.com/hGmyPZvUeG
— Climate Change Committee (@theCCCuk) June 28, 2022
