In 2019, the UK was the first major economy to make a legally binding pledge to reach net zero by 2050. The UK government published its Green Industrial Plan in November 2020 subsequently followed by a commitment to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by at least 68% by 2030.
The Government has legislated to reduce emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, following a recommendation from the Climate Change Committee. The UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions will also be included in its Carbon Budget for the first time.
The Energy White Paper outlines the government’s plan for transforming the UK’s energy system, promoting high-skilled jobs and clean, resilient economic growth whilst delivering reduced net zero emissions by 2050.
The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy sets out how industry can decarbonise in line with net zero while remaining competitive and without pushing emissions abroad.
The government’s published White Paper contains ambitions for building a cleaner and more modern transport system.
The Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan has been put forward as a ‘greenprint’ for cutting emissions from domestic transport by 2050, its key policies include phasing out the sale of new diesel and petrol heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) by 2040, creating a net-zero domestic aviation rail network by 2050, ensuring net zero domestic aviation emissions by 2040 and ‘leading’ the transition to green shipping.
The Government’s new hospitality strategy includes measures to make the sector greener.
The government have also outlined a series of green programmes providing adults with the skills needed to pursue a green career.
The UK Infrastructure Bank has opened. It has been set up to accelerate investment into infrastructure projects and cut emissions, as part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.
The Government’s National Infrastructure Strategy, sets out its priorities for spending and projects, both heavily focused on its ‘levelling up’ agenda.
The Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan outlines plans for a ‘green industrial revolution’.
The Board of Trade’s report on the case for green and fair trade.
The Government has set out an ambition to create 2 million new jobs by 2030 and has set up a Green Jobs Taskforce. The taskforce will focus on short and longer-term goals and a long-term plan that maps out skills required in areas such as home retrofitting and offshore wind while supporting people in high carbon transitioning sectors to retrain.
Information on low emission and electric vehicles including funding and charge point schemes and renewable fuels can be found here.
Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
Find out what electric vehicles are and how successive governments have planned for infrastructure and provided vehicle grants and incentives to encourage and accommodate their growth.
Find out more here.
Sustainable Finance
The Government has appointed an independent expert group, The Green Technical Advisory Group (TGAG) to advise on standards for green investment. Overseeing the Government’s delivery of a Green Taxonomy, the TGAG will assist with the clear definition of economic activities which are considered environmentally sustainable.
The ‘new chapter for financial services’ outlines the government’s vision for an open, green and technologically advanced financial services sector.
Live Inquiries
- Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into plastic waste.
- Parliament’s International Trade committee is holding an inquiry ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26)
- Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee is holding an inquiry into reproducibility and research integrity.