The government has responded to the Climate Change Committee (CCC)’s concerns, stating that it will still reach net zero goals by 2050 in a more “pragmatic, proportionate and realistic” way.
It added that it will not be taking forward CCC recommendations, especially on policies that “force families to make costly and burdensome changes to their lifestyles.”
The report comes after the CCC’s occurring criticism of the government’s climate plans and U-turns.
Earlier this month, the CCC revealed that the government has failed to provide its staff with any assessment on estimates for the UK’s future emissions following the prime minister’s net zero policy U-turn.
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CCC Chair Professor Piers Forster said at the time: “We remain concerned about the likelihood of future targets, especially the substantial policy gap to the UK’s 2030 goal. Around a fifth of the required emissions reductions to 2030 are covered by plans that we assess as insufficient.”
“Recent policy announcements were not accompanied by estimates of future emissions, nor evidence to back the government’s assurance that the UK’s targets will still be met.”
“We urge the government to adopt greater transparency in updating its analysis at any time of major announcements. Our position as a global leader on the climate has come under renewed scrutiny following the prime minister’s speech.
“We urge the government to restate the strong British leadership on climate change in the crucial period before the next climate summit, COP28 in Dubai.”
