Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 1
First Report - The financial sector and the UK's net zero transition
Published 29 Nov 2023
Paragraph 33
Environmental Audit Committee The financial sector and the UK’s net zero transition All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We have heard that vast numbers of fossil fuel assets are at risk of devaluing before they are extracted due to changes in energy consumption and therefore becoming ‘stranded assets’. This is a particular risk in the City of London, as one of the top four financial centres where this concern is concentrated. This risk has also intensified due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine leading to divestment from Russian- linked fossil fuel assets. While there have been some calls for the burden of this risk to sit with the companies which are driving the phase out of fossil fuel investment through individual policies, we have not identified a consensus on this matter.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, First Report - The financial sector and the UK's net zero transition (HC 277), paragraph 33, 29 November 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 23 February 2024 (deadline 29 January 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government sets out its position on the financial sector and net zero, defending continued North Sea licensing, setting out plans for consultations on transition plans and voluntary carbon markets, and confirming a UK carbon border adjustment mechanism by 2027.
- On a date to end new North Sea licensing, it states it has "already considered fixing an end date" and "decided not to pursue this approach", citing a 2021 review and a climate compatibility checkpoint.
- On transition plans, it says its "upcoming consultation will consider the UK's approach to transition plans", including the role of the Transition Plan Taskforce's Disclosure Framework.
- On the green taxonomy, it will introduce a voluntary testing period "for at least two reporting years before considering the introduction of mandatory obligations".
- On voluntary carbon markets, it will consult on next steps and "intend[s] to publish the consultation in early 2024".