The new government must heed warnings of Climate Change Committee and get us back on track to net zero

The new government must heed warnings of Climate Change Committee and get us back on track to net zero

The New Economics Foundation (NEF) responds to the Climate Change Committee’s report on the latest developments on net zero.

Alex Chapman, senior economist at NEF, said:

“The Climate Change Committe’s report shows just how far off course the last government’s flippant approach to tackling the climate crisis has taken us. We urgently need to get back on track to meeting our net-zero targets if we want to leave the planet in a liveable condition for our children and grandchildren. It was a Labour government that set up the CCC and over the next few weeks we hope to see this new government take heed of the institution’s warnings and advice.

“This latest report sets out a number of clear and easy wins for the government. First, in the CCC’s words, we need to ​“stop airport expansion”. Three airport expansion applications will come before the government in the next few weeks, all should be rejected. Second, put a proper price on carbon so businesses who emit carbon pay fairly for the damage they’re causing. The gulf between the estimated social cost of carbon, £269 per tonne, and what we have actually been charging, either zero or £35 per tonne, needs closing as soon as possible. Third, stop gas boilers being installed in new-build properties. It makes no sense to be locking-in dependence on fossil fuels in future homes when we already have the technology in heat pumps to deliver a greener alternative.”

ENDS