Recommendations & Conclusions
20 items
1
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Climate Change Committee’s advised level for the Seventh Carbon Budget is technically credible, but will require tough political decisions, and represents a necessary checkpoint in the UK’s statutory pathway to net zero by 2050. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30)
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The Climate Change Committee’s advised level for the Seventh Carbon Budget is technically credible, but will require tough political decisions, and represents a necessary checkpoint in the UK’s statutory pathway to net zero by 2050. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30)
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to proposing to Parliament that the seventh carbon budget be set in line with the Climate Change Committee’s recommended level of 535 MtCO₂e. A cross-government process will follow to develop the delivery pathway and new policies, considering the Committee's suggestions.
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5
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
In legislating for the Seventh Carbon Budget, the Government should consider the United Kingdom’s contribution to global efforts to limit warming, alongside its domestic statutory framework. While the UK has exercised international leadership through the Climate Change Act 2008, the statutory net zero target and its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution, …
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In legislating for the Seventh Carbon Budget, the Government should consider the United Kingdom’s contribution to global efforts to limit warming, alongside its domestic statutory framework. While the UK has exercised international leadership through the Climate Change Act 2008, the statutory net zero target and its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution, continued leadership cannot be assumed. The credibility of the UK’s climate framework depends on domestic emissions limits 57 being consistent with its obligations under the Paris Agreement and its commitment to a just transition, as well as the coherence of its overall contribution to global climate action. (Conclusion, Paragraph 38)
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Government response AI summary
The government states its commitment to ambitious climate action, guided by international cooperation and the Paris Agreement, and highlights that the Carbon Budget 7 Impact Assessment articulates how the chosen CB7 level is credibly aligned with pathways to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 °C.
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6
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Government should set out clearly in the impact assessment that will accompany the draft Carbon Budget Order, how the proposed legislative level of the Seventh Carbon Budget aligns with the United Kingdom’s legally binding obligations under the Paris Agreement, including how CB7 enables the UK to meet its status …
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The Government should set out clearly in the impact assessment that will accompany the draft Carbon Budget Order, how the proposed legislative level of the Seventh Carbon Budget aligns with the United Kingdom’s legally binding obligations under the Paris Agreement, including how CB7 enables the UK to meet its status as an Annex I Party, with heightened responsibilities under the UNFCCC. (Recommendation, Paragraph 39) Government delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the analysis published within the Carbon Budget 7 Impact Assessment articulates how the chosen CB7 level aligns credibly with pathways to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 °C, thereby addressing its Paris Agreement obligations.
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10
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
DESNZ should provide clear, consistent and sustained cross-government leadership on communication of net zero policy. Policy announcements and public messaging should reinforce, rather than dilute, the urgency of emissions reductions and the long-term direction of travel required to deliver the Seventh Carbon Budget. (Recommendation, Paragraph 57)
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DESNZ should provide clear, consistent and sustained cross-government leadership on communication of net zero policy. Policy announcements and public messaging should reinforce, rather than dilute, the urgency of emissions reductions and the long-term direction of travel required to deliver the Seventh Carbon Budget. (Recommendation, Paragraph 57)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the urgency and states that DESNZ already provides cross-government leadership on net zero communications, citing recent campaigns, a new Clean Energy website launched in September 2025, and an annual statement to Parliament as evidence of their commitment to clear public messaging.
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17
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Government should ensure that delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget is grounded primarily in early, high-confidence emissions reductions where possible. Greenhouse gas removals should be treated as conditional and supplementary, not as substitutes for mitigation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 93)
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The Government should ensure that delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget is grounded primarily in early, high-confidence emissions reductions where possible. Greenhouse gas removals should be treated as conditional and supplementary, not as substitutes for mitigation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 93)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of resilience and states its plans already prioritise early, high-confidence emissions reductions, with Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) used to balance residual emissions; it will consider GGR Independent Review recommendations and set out the role of GGRs in a future …
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19
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Seventh Carbon Budget must deliver genuine emissions reductions, not reductions achieved by exporting emissions overseas. Meeting carbon budgets through offshoring would undermine their environmental purpose 61 and the integrity of the UK’s climate framework, and risks weakening public confidence in decarbonisation by creating the appearance of progress without reducing …
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The Seventh Carbon Budget must deliver genuine emissions reductions, not reductions achieved by exporting emissions overseas. Meeting carbon budgets through offshoring would undermine their environmental purpose 61 and the integrity of the UK’s climate framework, and risks weakening public confidence in decarbonisation by creating the appearance of progress without reducing global emissions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 101)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and is committed to preventing carbon leakage. It will gradually phase out free allocations for sectors covered by the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from 2027, over an indicative 9-year period, to work with the introduction of the …
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20
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
Decarbonisation must not be confused with deindustrialisation. Allowing production to relocate abroad would weaken the UK’s industrial base while doing little to reduce global emissions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 102)
Government response AI summary
The government agrees that climate policies must prevent offshoring and support UK industry competitiveness. It highlights its commitment to decarbonise industry, existing investments, and specific policies like the UK ETS and the gradual phasing out of free allocations with the introduction of the UK Carbon …
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21
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
Delivering the Seventh Carbon Budget therefore requires a policy framework that supports domestic decarbonisation and provides long-term certainty for investment in low-carbon production in the UK. Without this, there is a material risk that progress towards the carbon budgets is achieved on paper rather than through real emissions reductions. (Conclusion, …
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Delivering the Seventh Carbon Budget therefore requires a policy framework that supports domestic decarbonisation and provides long-term certainty for investment in low-carbon production in the UK. Without this, there is a material risk that progress towards the carbon budgets is achieved on paper rather than through real emissions reductions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 103)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that policies must support domestic decarbonisation and prevent carbon leakage. It highlights existing commitments, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, and the gradual phasing out of free allocations for sectors covered by the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from 2027, with the delivery …
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22
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Government should set out clearly how its carbon budget policies will prevent the offshoring of emissions and support domestic decarbonisation, particularly in energy-intensive and trade-exposed sectors. (Recommendation, Paragraph 104)
Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of preventing emissions offshoring and supporting UK industry decarbonisation. It commits to gradually phasing out free allocations for UK ETS sectors covered by the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from 2027, over nine years, and states the full …
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23
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The carbon budget delivery plan should provide clarity on how key policy mechanisms, including electricity price support, infrastructure delivery, and carbon pricing will operate together during the Seventh Carbon Budget period to support domestic investment and manage carbon leakage. (Recommendation, Paragraph 105)
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The carbon budget delivery plan should provide clarity on how key policy mechanisms, including electricity price support, infrastructure delivery, and carbon pricing will operate together during the Seventh Carbon Budget period to support domestic investment and manage carbon leakage. (Recommendation, Paragraph 105)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and commits to ensuring climate policies do not drive offshoring. It states that the delivery plan will set out how key policy mechanisms, including electricity price support, infrastructure, and carbon pricing, will operate together during the CB7 period to …
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24
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Government should also set out how free allocation under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and the forthcoming UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will interact during the transition, with a commitment to review their combined effectiveness globally once the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is in place. (Recommendation, Paragraph 106)
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The Government should also set out how free allocation under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and the forthcoming UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will interact during the transition, with a commitment to review their combined effectiveness globally once the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is in place. (Recommendation, Paragraph 106)
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, detailing that free allocations under the UK ETS will be gradually phased out for CBAM-covered sectors from 2027 over an indicative nine-year period, and commits to monitoring the effectiveness of this transition and interaction.
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25
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
We reiterate our previous recommendation in our report on Airport Expansion, and that of the Climate Change Committee, that the Government should provide Parliamentary time to legislate to include international aviation emissions within carbon budgets and the UK’s net zero targets, before laying the draft Carbon Budget Order. This is …
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We reiterate our previous recommendation in our report on Airport Expansion, and that of the Climate Change Committee, that the Government should provide Parliamentary time to legislate to include international aviation emissions within carbon budgets and the UK’s net zero targets, before laying the draft Carbon Budget Order. This is increasingly important given the growing reliance on sustainable aviation fuels and international supply chains. (Recommendation, Paragraph 107) 62 Behaviour change, fairness, and the public mandate
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating it laid a statutory instrument on 14 April 2026 to formally include international aviation and international shipping emissions in Carbon Budget 6, all subsequent carbon budgets, and the net zero target.
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29
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
Behaviour change at the scale required for the Seventh Carbon Budget will not occur by default. It depends on policies that tangibly improve everyday life for households and communities. Warmer homes, lower running costs, cleaner air and better local environments are not ancillary benefits of climate action, but essential delivery …
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Behaviour change at the scale required for the Seventh Carbon Budget will not occur by default. It depends on policies that tangibly improve everyday life for households and communities. Warmer homes, lower running costs, cleaner air and better local environments are not ancillary benefits of climate action, but essential delivery mechanisms. Where climate policy aligns with health, affordability and quality of place, behaviour change becomes feasible at scale. Without this alignment, the level of behaviour change assumed under the Seventh Carbon Budget will not be delivered. (Conclusion, Paragraph 122)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that co-benefits are already central to its decarbonisation approach and will continue to guide future plans. It highlights ongoing engagement initiatives, plans to launch an annual Energising Britain event in 2026, and is creating a new Youth Climate and Nature Panel under …
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30
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Government should place delivery of co-benefits at the centre of its approach to the Seventh Carbon Budget. Policies intended to drive behaviour change should be designed from the outset to improve 63 affordability, health outcomes, air quality and local environments. Departments responsible for housing, transport, energy, planning and public …
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The Government should place delivery of co-benefits at the centre of its approach to the Seventh Carbon Budget. Policies intended to drive behaviour change should be designed from the outset to improve 63 affordability, health outcomes, air quality and local environments. Departments responsible for housing, transport, energy, planning and public health should be required to set out, within their contribution to the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan and Impact Assessment, how their policies deliver these co-benefits and enable the level of behaviour change assumed under the budget. (Recommendation, Paragraph 123)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that co-benefits were already central to its decarbonisation approach and will continue to guide future plans. It describes pursuing policies for tangible improvements and is committed to ongoing inclusive engagement, launching an annual Energising Britain event in 2026, and creating a new …
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31
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
Fairness is fundamental to the legitimacy of the Seventh Carbon Budget. Where transition costs are experienced early and unevenly, while benefits arrive later or are less visible, public consent cannot be assumed. The current approach to funding energy policy risks placing disproportionate burdens on households with the fewest options, while …
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Fairness is fundamental to the legitimacy of the Seventh Carbon Budget. Where transition costs are experienced early and unevenly, while benefits arrive later or are less visible, public consent cannot be assumed. The current approach to funding energy policy risks placing disproportionate burdens on households with the fewest options, while weakening incentives to move away from fossil fuels. If unaddressed, this risks undermining a central delivery pathway for the Seventh Carbon Budget. (Conclusion, Paragraph 129)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that its published Impact Assessment and equality analysis already consider distributional impacts and fairness in the net zero transition, and that further impacts will be considered in detail as part of developing the CB7 delivery plan.
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32
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
The Government should further prioritise reducing electricity costs by removing appropriate policy costs from electricity bills and funding them through general taxation. This would improve affordability for households and businesses, strengthen incentives for the electrification of heat and transport, and avoid placing additional costs on households that are not yet …
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The Government should further prioritise reducing electricity costs by removing appropriate policy costs from electricity bills and funding them through general taxation. This would improve affordability for households and businesses, strengthen incentives for the electrification of heat and transport, and avoid placing additional costs on households that are not yet able to switch away from gas. Shifting policy costs from electricity to gas bills may improve price signals in the short term, but would risk unfairly penalising households who face practical, financial or housing constraints on electrification. (Recommendation, Paragraph 130)
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Government response AI summary
The government states it has already moved legacy costs from electricity bills to the Exchequer and taken other actions to reduce electricity costs. It is expanding the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, accelerating its £15 billion Warm Homes Plan with an uplift to the Boiler Upgrade …
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33
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
Alongside the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, the Government should publish a Fairness and Distribution Assessment setting out the expected distributional impacts of carbon budget policies, identifying groups at risk of disproportionate costs, including workers whose jobs are displaced by the transition, and the measures in place to support them. …
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Alongside the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, the Government should publish a Fairness and Distribution Assessment setting out the expected distributional impacts of carbon budget policies, identifying groups at risk of disproportionate costs, including workers whose jobs are displaced by the transition, and the measures in place to support them. (Recommendation, Paragraph 131)
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Government response AI summary
The government does not commit to publishing a separate Fairness and Distribution Assessment, but states it has already published an Impact Assessment with distributional analysis and an equality analysis, and that further impacts will be considered as part of developing the CB7 delivery plan.
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34
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
Public participation is an essential delivery requirement for the Seventh Carbon Budget, not a communications add-on. As decarbonisation increasingly depends on decisions taken by households and communities, public consent must be sustained through consistent leadership, honest explanation of trade-offs, and genuine two-way engagement that is rooted in credible, practical policy …
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Public participation is an essential delivery requirement for the Seventh Carbon Budget, not a communications add-on. As decarbonisation increasingly depends on decisions taken by households and communities, public consent must be sustained through consistent leadership, honest explanation of trade-offs, and genuine two-way engagement that is rooted in credible, practical policy and visibly improves everyday life. (Conclusion, Paragraph 137)
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Government response AI summary
The government highlights its focus on co-benefits and inclusive, participatory approaches for decarbonisation. It commits to launching an annual "Energising Britain" event in 2026 and creating a new Youth Climate and Nature Panel under the Net Zero Council to ensure engagement and embed intergenerational perspectives …
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36
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
Local authorities are essential to delivering the Seventh Carbon Budget as it will rely on place-based action rooted in local knowledge, trusted relationships and visible local benefits. Without a clear mandate and sustained funding, the Government cannot credibly expect local authorities to deliver the scale of change assumed under the …
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Local authorities are essential to delivering the Seventh Carbon Budget as it will rely on place-based action rooted in local knowledge, trusted relationships and visible local benefits. Without a clear mandate and sustained funding, the Government cannot credibly expect local authorities to deliver the scale of change assumed under the Seventh Carbon Budget. (Conclusion, Paragraph 142)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the crucial role of local authorities and outlines several concrete actions, including continued and integrated funding schemes, the establishment of a Warm Homes Agency, and the development of a local net zero framework to provide clarity on their role.
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39
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Accepted
However, experience shows that Parliamentary scrutiny of carbon budgets has too often been cursory. The Sixth Carbon Budget, despite setting a legally binding emissions limit with implications for public spending, 65 infrastructure and everyday life, did not remotely receive commensurate Parliamentary focus. That approach is no longer defensible. As delivery …
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However, experience shows that Parliamentary scrutiny of carbon budgets has too often been cursory. The Sixth Carbon Budget, despite setting a legally binding emissions limit with implications for public spending, 65 infrastructure and everyday life, did not remotely receive commensurate Parliamentary focus. That approach is no longer defensible. As delivery of carbon budgets becomes more complex, more intrusive and more politically contested, Parliament must be given adequate opportunity to scrutinise the assumptions, trade-offs and risks that underpin them. Robust scrutiny of the Seventh Carbon Budget is essential to democratic accountability and to sustaining confidence in its delivery. Parliament must not be reduced to a rubber stamp for legally binding climate decisions of this scale and consequence. (Conclusion, Paragraph 153)
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates that the Climate Change Act already includes mechanisms for parliamentary scrutiny of carbon budgets, such as debates and approval, and states its approach will align with these statutory duties. It welcomes the Committee's suggestions, noting they will be considered during the development …
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