January 2023
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This conference assessed the future of climate change policy in the UK.
With new political leadership in government, and following COP27, delegates discussed the way forward for net-zero ambitions and what is now needed from policy, key stakeholders, research, and other enablers if decarbonisation targets are to be met by 2050.
The conference was a timely opportunity to examine recently announced plans, including:
- the Net Zero review into how best to deliver the net-zero target without placing undue burdens on businesses or consumers
- the new windfall tax for renewable electricity generators announced in the Autumn Statement
- the announcement of a major new international climate package at COP27
- the launch of a new oil and gas licensing round
It took place following the Climate Change Committee’s 2022 Progress Report to Parliament which concluded that “current programmes will not deliver Net Zero”, as well as the Environment and Climate Change Committee report which described the Government’s approach to enabling behaviour change as inadequate, and the High Court’s ruling that the Government’s net-zero strategy breaches its obligations under the Climate Change Act 2008 - with revisions due by March 2023.
The discussion brought stakeholders together with policymakers following COP27 to consider progress and next steps for government net-zero strategy, now that the UK’s COP presidency has drawn to a close.
Overall, sessions in the agenda included:
- climate change: assessing targets, current progress and thinking - next steps for the UK
- climate patterns: latest thinking on trends and the impact of anthropogenic activities
- protecting nature and the environment: priorities for policy and stakeholders to reduce potential impacts going forward
- legislative options: developing the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks - priorities for the planning needed to meet environmental obligations
- decarbonising key sectors: looking at agriculture, transport, and energy - ways forward for reducing emissions at the scale and pace required
- funding a net-zero transition: long-term strategic options - key issues for businesses, investors, consumers and policy
- net-zero: meeting 2050 targets and options to align work with pro-growth and pro-business agendas
- policy and governance: priorities for reducing emissions and developing long-term strategies for climate action - assessing the legacy of COP26, outcomes from COP27 and beyond
We were pleased to be able to include a keynote session with Chris Stark, Chief Executive, Climate Change Committee; and further keynote contributions from Mike Childs, Head of Science, Policy and Research, Friends of the Earth; Alan Law, Deputy Chief Executive, Natural England; and Professor Peter Stott, Science Fellow for Attribution, Met Office.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside parliamentary pass holders from the House of Lords - as well as key policy officials who attended from BEIS; Cabinet Office; CCS; Defra; DAERA, NI; DCMS; Department for the Economy, NI; Department for Infrastructure, NI; DIT; Department of Finance, NI; DfT; Geospatial Commission; GLD; Government Office for Science; IPO; NAO; Northern Ireland Assembly; the ORR; Ofwat; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
