Government net zero review 2022

On 26 September 2022 the Secretary of State at BEIS announced that 'an independent review of the government’s approach to delivering its net zero target, to ensure that it is pro-business and pro-growth'.

In October 2021 the government published a Net Zero Strategy, setting out a pathway to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The economic landscape in the UK has changed dramatically since then as a result of the situation in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis, energy prices and recently the drop in the pound. As a result, the government has commissioned a review into its net zero approach to better understand the impact of the different ways to deliver its policy and maximise economic opportunities of the transition.

The government continues to state its commitment to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and has published its terms of reference for the review here. These include how the approach to net zero can:

1. Deliver maximum economic growth and investment, driving opportunities for private investment, jobs, innovation, exports, and growth right across the UK;
2. Support UK energy security and affordability for consumers and businesses and the need to rapidly increase and strengthen UK energy production and supply;
3. Minimise costs borne by businesses and consumers, particularly in the short-term.

The review will assess the economic co-benefits associated with different policies and how to drive down the cost curve for net zero technologies. It will consider innovative approaches and ways of delivering the target that maximise the economic opportunities.

The Chair of the review will be Chris Skidmore MP, who, it was announced at the beginning of September would embark on a net zero tour, visiting schemes across north-west England, including a peat restoration project and a home insulation demonstration.

He was quoted by the Guardian (September 8) as saying: "Environment and net zero should be bigger than party politics but I wanted to get out of Westminster to show that net zero is not a cost – it’s a benefit. If you leave Westminster you see people are getting on with it - the mayoral authorities, the councils, are really prioritising net zero as they see it as a vehicle for economic growth. I wanted to show this in the regions so we don’t see it as a Westminster bubble policy concept, it’s real life.”

The review is to be independent, sponsored by the BEIS Director General for Net Zero and International, with the Chair responsible for delivery and to the BEIS Secretary of State. The review will produce a report with a set of recommendations submitted to the BEIS Secretary of State by the end of December 2022 with the findings published by the government.

This article is based on the Government announcement published on September 26, for further information and updates visit the Governement web page here.

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