Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Deferred
Failure to guarantee long-term funding for maritime decarbonisation research risks stifling progress.
Conclusion
The Government’s current refusal to guarantee funding for research and development into maritime decarbonisation beyond March 2025 is regrettable. We note that the Aviation Technology Institute has received a guarantee of funding to 2030, no doubt reflecting the importance to the economy, and to decarbonisation targets, of rapid progress in reducing emissions from domestic and international aviation. By failing to guarantee Government support for research and development into reducing domestic and international shipping emissions, Ministers risk stifling progress in this sector. Although decarbonisation of domestic and international shipping is less advanced than decarbonisation of aviation, it is just as challenging to undertake, and demands significant investment decisions from Government and industry in the short term if net zero goals are to be met. (Paragraph 134) Net zero and UK shipping 59
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, acknowledging the need for further R&D and calls for long-term certainty. It states it will consider how to progress this recommendation as part of the next multi-year spending review.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government partially accepts this recommendation. We recognise further research and development will be required to accelerate the development of the fuels and technologies required to decarbonise the sector. We have also heard calls from the sector for longer-term certainty required in both policy and research and development. Government will be considering how best to take forward this recommendation as part of the next multi-year spending review.