The Climate Change Committee (CCC) have warned of major failures in the government's delivery of their own plans to meet climate targets which mean they won't be able to deliver on net zero targets.
In a 600 page assessment issued by the CCC they noted that there were credible government plans for under half of the emission reductions required on the journey to achieving net zero. Only 39% of the required emission cuts were covered by well funded and timelined plans, and the remaining cuts required had either inadequate plans or no plans at all.
The government published their net zero strategy in October 2021, which set out plans for decarbonisation until 2037. By this point the UK aims to have cut carbon emissions by 78% based on 1990 levels. The CCC claim that if this strategy was fully delivered it would actually outperform its intended 78% cuts, however their progress review discovered that there was little evidence of actual delivery against these main goals.
Currently UK emissions are around 47% of their 1990 levels, but there is still a lot more work to be done if we are to meet our 2050 net zero target.
Over 300 recommendations are made in the CCC's progress report which states that delivery on targets must be actively managed and there should not be a greater reliance on greenhouse gas removal technologies to reduce emissions.
The report also mentioned the lack of action from the UK government to insulate people's homes to save energy and money during the current crisis. According to the report, the government promised to invest in insulating homes in 2019 and committed to developing new policies in 2021, however, none of these promises were fulfilled. The CCC called the lack of action "shocking" as the UK continues to have some of the leakiest homes in Europe and installations of insulation remain at rock bottom.
Chair of the CCC, Lord Deben, commented: "The UK is a champion in setting new climate goals, now we must be world-beaters in delivering them. The view of the committee is that the policy framework is not yet fully in place to drive the large programme of delivery required within this decade. There is time to complete this, but it is imperative that the government does so in the next year, as implied by the net zero strategy."
The findings of the report have led to opposition politicians condemning the government's lack of action. Climate campaigners have also criticised the government's failures.
Friends of the Earth's Head of Policy, Mike Childs claimed the UK government is "falling woefully short" on honouring international climate change commitments and meeting its own legally binding carbon targets.
Sam Hunter Jones, a senior lawyer for Client Earth - one of the three groups who have commenced legal challenges against the government over its net zero strategy, said the report had lifted the lid on the promises made by the UK government on climate action and revealed a "net zero strategy that won't deliver".
