Recommendations & Conclusions
12 items
2
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
As the ‘low hanging fruit’ of decarbonisation has largely been achieved, delivery risk increases materially under the Seventh Carbon Budget, at the same time as delivery options are reduced (as represented by the CCC’s decision to produce a single balanced pathway rather than multiple pathways). Emissions reductions become more complex, …
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As the ‘low hanging fruit’ of decarbonisation has largely been achieved, delivery risk increases materially under the Seventh Carbon Budget, at the same time as delivery options are reduced (as represented by the CCC’s decision to produce a single balanced pathway rather than multiple pathways). Emissions reductions become more complex, more capital- intensive and more dependent on coordinated action across infrastructure, markets and behaviour. Without clear planning, sustained policy signals, transparency over delivery assumptions and credible contingency arrangements, the risk of under-delivery and unequal impacts will rise. (Conclusion, Paragraph 31)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the Committee's concerns about delivery risk and states that these elements will be carefully considered during the development of the delivery plan for the seventh carbon budget, in line with existing statutory duties and risk review processes.
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4
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
The Government should consider additional measures that offer an opportunity to provide resilience and headroom against delivery risk, without damaging public consent for the measures. (Recommendation, Paragraph 33)
Government response AI summary
The government states that the elements of the recommendation, including contingency planning and policy instruments, will be "considered carefully" as it develops the delivery plan for the seventh carbon budget. It also notes that many of these are already under consideration and delivery risks are …
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7
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
The Government must make sure its cross-departmental arrangements offer the clarity, authority and consistency required to deliver the Seventh Carbon Budget. As emissions reductions must accelerate sharply in the 2030s, delivery will depend on sustained, coordinated action across multiple departments and policy areas. Strong central leadership and clear mechanisms for …
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The Government must make sure its cross-departmental arrangements offer the clarity, authority and consistency required to deliver the Seventh Carbon Budget. As emissions reductions must accelerate sharply in the 2030s, delivery will depend on sustained, coordinated action across multiple departments and policy areas. Strong central leadership and clear mechanisms for collective responsibility are needed to avoid departmental priorities and policy signals diverging, undermining confidence in delivery of the carbon budget. (Conclusion, Paragraph 50)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of strong cross-government coordination and states that existing frameworks and central leadership are in place, also committing to carefully consider the Committee’s recommendations for strengthening cross-government delivery when developing the CB7 plan.
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9
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
Public perceptions are shaped not by ministerial statements alone, but by the cumulative impact of decisions taken across Government. Where policy choices in areas such as transport, buildings and infrastructure cut across climate objectives and are not aligned, they signal that net zero is a conditional ambition rather than a …
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Public perceptions are shaped not by ministerial statements alone, but by the cumulative impact of decisions taken across Government. Where policy choices in areas such as transport, buildings and infrastructure cut across climate objectives and are not aligned, they signal that net zero is a conditional ambition rather than a binding national obligation. This inconsistency has practical consequences and would slow the uptake of low-carbon technologies and deter long-term private investment, undermining confidence in the delivery of net zero and the Seventh Carbon Budget. The erosion of cross-party consensus on net zero further compounds this uncertainty at precisely the point when clarity, stability and sustained political commitment are most needed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 56)
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises the importance of strong cross-government coordination, stating that decarbonisation impacts are already considered in decisions and a robust framework is in place. It will publish a delivery plan for CB7 and will carefully consider the Committee’s recommendations for strengthening cross-government delivery.
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11
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
DESNZ should set out a clear cross-sector prioritisation framework within the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, explaining how limited low- carbon resources, including clean electricity, network capacity, sustainable feedstocks and land, will be allocated between competing demands. This framework should set out how priorities will be managed where policies across …
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DESNZ should set out a clear cross-sector prioritisation framework within the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, explaining how limited low- carbon resources, including clean electricity, network capacity, sustainable feedstocks and land, will be allocated between competing demands. This framework should set out how priorities will be managed where policies across sectors draw on the same constrained resources, and how trade-offs will be handled to ensure that progress in one part of the economy does not displace or constrain decarbonisation elsewhere. (Recommendation, Paragraph 58)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of cross-government coordination and will publish a delivery plan for the seventh carbon budget, stating they will carefully consider the Committee's recommendations for strengthening delivery during its development.
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12
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
DESNZ Ministers should provide visible cross-government leadership by setting out, in a single, authoritative statement within our recommended indicative delivery framework, how departmental policies collectively support delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget. This should include clear objectives, indicative timelines and an explanation of how policies that risk increasing emissions or …
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DESNZ Ministers should provide visible cross-government leadership by setting out, in a single, authoritative statement within our recommended indicative delivery framework, how departmental policies collectively support delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget. This should include clear objectives, indicative timelines and an explanation of how policies that risk increasing emissions or delaying progress will be mitigated, so that Parliament and the public can assess the coherence and credibility of the Government’s overall approach. However, DESNZ will only have the credibility, capacity and capability to do this if it is explicitly backed by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This includes public statements, clear steers across government and the resources to ensure departments meet their agreed net zero commitments and work together when delivery requires it. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59) 59 Sectoral pathways to delivering the Seventh Carbon Budget
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises the importance of cross-government coordination, states that the Prime Minister and Chancellor support DESNZ's role, and will publish a statutory delivery plan for the Seventh Carbon Budget. It will carefully consider the Committee’s specific recommendations for strengthening cross-government delivery when developing this …
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13
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
Delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget will depend on major cross-sector changes in infrastructure, technology, and behaviour, many of which must be secured well before the 2038–2042 period begins. These changes will not occur automatically in response to ambition alone. Without early clarity on policy instruments, funding mechanisms, delivery governance, …
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Delivery of the Seventh Carbon Budget will depend on major cross-sector changes in infrastructure, technology, and behaviour, many of which must be secured well before the 2038–2042 period begins. These changes will not occur automatically in response to ambition alone. Without early clarity on policy instruments, funding mechanisms, delivery governance, infrastructure sequencing and skills capacity, the pathway assumptions will not translate into delivery. (Conclusion, Paragraph 84)
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Government response AI summary
The government notes the importance of the concerns raised, stating that a delivery plan for the seventh carbon budget will be developed through a cross-government process after the budget is set, and confirms that the Committee's suggestions will be carefully considered during this development.
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14
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
Delivery risk is particularly acute in sectors that rely on technologies not yet available at scale and subject to significant cost, supply, and investment uncertainty. While policy frameworks exist in principle, they do not yet provide a sufficiently credible or transparent basis for delivering the scale of emissions reductions assumed …
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Delivery risk is particularly acute in sectors that rely on technologies not yet available at scale and subject to significant cost, supply, and investment uncertainty. While policy frameworks exist in principle, they do not yet provide a sufficiently credible or transparent basis for delivering the scale of emissions reductions assumed in the Climate Change Committee’s pathway. Without clearer plans, Parliament, investors, and the public are being asked to take delivery on trust. (Conclusion, Paragraph 85)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee’s suggestions regarding delivery risks and the need for clearer plans, stating that elements such as policy instruments and infrastructure readiness will be considered carefully during the development of the Carbon Budget 7 delivery plan.
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28
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
Behaviour change should not be treated as an adjunct to technology deployment or as a matter of individual responsibility alone. Delivery planning should make full and explicit use of policy levers to shape prices, incentives, defaults, infrastructure and markets, so that low-carbon choices are affordable, accessible and practical at scale. …
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Behaviour change should not be treated as an adjunct to technology deployment or as a matter of individual responsibility alone. Delivery planning should make full and explicit use of policy levers to shape prices, incentives, defaults, infrastructure and markets, so that low-carbon choices are affordable, accessible and practical at scale. The Government should support behaviour change in practice through a place-based approach to decarbonisation, ensuring that households are offered low-carbon options that reflect their housing type, local infrastructure and circumstances. (Recommendation, Paragraph 117)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that co-benefits guide its decarbonisation approach and it is pursuing policies for tangible improvements. It commits to ongoing inclusive and participatory engagement, launching an annual 'Energising Britain' event and creating a Youth Climate and Nature Panel, but does not detail specific new …
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35
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
The Government should set out its public participation approach for the Seventh Carbon Budget as a clear, resourced programme within the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan. This should focus on engagement, rather than just communications, and should: 64 • embed ongoing, two-way engagement, including deliberative processes at a national and …
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The Government should set out its public participation approach for the Seventh Carbon Budget as a clear, resourced programme within the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan. This should focus on engagement, rather than just communications, and should: 64 • embed ongoing, two-way engagement, including deliberative processes at a national and local level, with transparent feedback loops showing how public input has shaped decisions; • use trusted messengers and independent advice, supporting local authorities, community organisations and industry practitioners to engage communities and guide households through key decisions, particularly on home upgrades; • ensure communications and policy are mutually reinforcing, with consistent cross-government messaging on the practical choices people are being asked to make; and • frame engagement around tangible co-benefits and fairness, including warmer homes, lower bills, cleaner air and improved health, while being clear about costs, constraints and the consequences of inaction. (Recommendation, Paragraph 138)
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Government response AI summary
The government highlights its focus on co-benefits and states a commitment to ongoing inclusive and participatory approaches, announcing a new annual 'Energising Britain' event in 2026 and a Youth Climate and Nature Panel. However, it does not explicitly detail a clear, resourced public participation programme …
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38
Conclusion
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
We welcome the Government’s decision to invite us to undertake early scrutiny of the Seventh Carbon Budget. This represents a material improvement on previous practice and reflects growing recognition of Parliament’s role in scrutinising not just carbon targets, but the credibility of the plans intended to deliver them. (Conclusion, Paragraph …
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We welcome the Government’s decision to invite us to undertake early scrutiny of the Seventh Carbon Budget. This represents a material improvement on previous practice and reflects growing recognition of Parliament’s role in scrutinising not just carbon targets, but the credibility of the plans intended to deliver them. (Conclusion, Paragraph 152)
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Government response AI summary
The government expresses gratitude for the Environmental Audit Committee's engagement in scrutinising the carbon budget recommendations and welcomes their support for the recommended level for CB7.
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40
Recommendation
8th Report - The Seventh Carbon Budget
Acknowledged
The Government should support a formal, enhanced Parliamentary scrutiny framework for the Seventh Carbon Budget that enables meaningful scrutiny both before approval and throughout delivery, by an annual report on each Department’s progress towards time framed targets. Following the setting of the Sixth Carbon Budget, our predecessor Committee made a …
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The Government should support a formal, enhanced Parliamentary scrutiny framework for the Seventh Carbon Budget that enables meaningful scrutiny both before approval and throughout delivery, by an annual report on each Department’s progress towards time framed targets. Following the setting of the Sixth Carbon Budget, our predecessor Committee made a comprehensive set of recommendations on how Parliamentary scrutiny of future carbon budgets should be strengthened. We consider that those recommendations remain the most appropriate framework for scrutiny of the Seventh Carbon Budget, and we recommend that the Government implement them in full. In particular, the Government should adopt the approach set out below: • When Ministers announce the proposed level of the Seventh Carbon Budget, they should simultaneously lay before Parliament a draft carbon budget delivery framework, setting out the policies and proposals intended to deliver the budget, as described in Chapters 2 and 3, for scrutiny and debate. Ministers should give notice of a motion under Standing Order No. 118(3)(a) that the draft Order is not to be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee in the House of Commons, but instead debated on the Floor of the House. • A defined period of three months of Parliamentary scrutiny should elapse between publication of the draft delivery framework and the laying of the draft Carbon Budget Order. While recognising statutory constraints, this period should be sufficient to allow committees to take evidence, publish reports, and engage constructively with Ministers on delivery feasibility and risk. • This scrutiny period will enable relevant House of Commons and House of Lords committees to examine elements of the draft delivery framework within their remits. The Secretary of State for DESNZ, who has principal responsibility for delivery, should agree to appear before the Environmental Audit Committee at an early stage. • The Government should arrange for a debate of
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee’s suggestions for an enhanced scrutiny framework, stating that the outlined elements will be considered carefully as they develop the delivery plan for the seventh carbon budget, while aligning with existing statutory duties.
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