UK needs plans for net zeroThe Climate Change Committee (CCC) published a pair of reports, Progress in adapting to climate change and Progress in reducing emissions, to Parliament on 24 June.

plans for net zero

zero carbon electricity in 2025

The “UK needs plans for net zero” – The Climate Change Committee (CCC) published a pair of reports, Progress in adapting to climate change and Progress in reducing emissions, to Parliament on 24 June.

The CCC notes that the government has made significant climate promises over the last year but is yet to release comprehensive plans. To this effect, the committee calls for the publication of the Net Zero Strategy before the COP26 climate conference in November, with clear policy plans and full backing from the Treasury. This should:

> Provide a comprehensive plan for achieving net zero, the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution and the carbon budgets, setting out ambition for sectors and key technologies and behaviours that together will meet the challenge.

> Set timelines for how policies will start to deliver decarbonisation and ensure that wider policy development is consistent with the UK’s climate goals.

>Introduce processes for monitoring progress and mechanisms to course-correct over time.

Another UK needs plans for net zero priority recommendation, this time for 2021-22, is that the government must develop a public engagement strategy for net zero which builds on the findings of the UK Climate Assembly by involving members of the public in decision-making.

The CCC says this strategy should link to engagement on adaptation and identify “preferred policy options to empower people to contribute fully towards the path to net zero”.

On power, the CCC is calling for, by 2022, a plan for reaching an emissions intensity of 50 gCO2/kWh by 2030, with a total of around 350 TWh of low carbon generation – this would include setting out a schedule for regular auctions to procure low carbon generation.

In 2021, the government should commit to phasing out unabated gas generation by 2035, subject to ensuring security of supply. Additionally, it should publish, spring 2022, a comprehensive long-term strategy for unabated gas phase-out, including ensuring new gas plant are properly carbon capture and/or hydrogen-ready “as soon as possible and by 2025 at the latest”.

Another priority for 2021 is for the government to replace the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme, backed by standards and support for non-residential heat pump installations. This, the UK needs plans for net zero CCC argues, would provide a stable long-term policy framework to support sustained energy efficiency and heat pump growth to the 600,000 installed annually which the government is aiming for by 2028.

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