Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
4th Report - Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 109
Published 5 January 2023
Recommendations
32
Rejected
Para 180
The UK Government showed admirable international climate leadership at COP26 in Glasgow, pushing for a...
Recommendation
The UK Government showed admirable international climate leadership at COP26 in Glasgow, pushing for a renewed resolve to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. When making decisions about future oil and gas licensing, the UK Government must …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to set a clear date for ending new oil and gas licensing rounds in the North Sea, arguing that domestic production is already declining and that limiting UK production would not necessarily reduce global emissions.
33
Rejected
Para 192
The emissions targets currently set under the North Sea Transition Deal are not stretching enough.
Recommendation
The emissions targets currently set under the North Sea Transition Deal are not stretching enough. The Climate Change Committee suggests that it is feasible and necessary for oil and gas production emissions to be reduced by 68% by 2030. We …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to modify the North Sea Transition Deal, stating that the current decarbonisation targets are sufficiently ambitious and will help to reduce emissions, ensuring the UK Continental Shelf reaches net zero by 2050.
36
Rejected
Para 202
Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to deliver significant cuts in...
Recommendation
Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to deliver significant cuts in emissions by 2030 to meet the UK’s current Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, mandatory targets for the reduction of oil and gas operational …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government will not reopen the North Sea Transition Deal for negotiation but will monitor progress closely to ensure the sector is on track to meet the 2030 target.
44
Rejected
Para 247
The Energy Bills Support Scheme and the subsequent Energy Price Guarantee have provided badly-needed support...
Recommendation
The Energy Bills Support Scheme and the subsequent Energy Price Guarantee have provided badly-needed support for billpayers, saving four million households from fuel poverty. While we welcome the support the Government has provided, we note that currently it will only …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation due to fiscal sustainability concerns regarding the use of EPL revenue for a hypothecated fund, citing the volatility of projections of EPL revenues and the constraining impact on the management of public finances.
46
Rejected
The Government is not providing renewable energy generators with the same level of generous tax...
Recommendation
The Government is not providing renewable energy generators with the same level of generous tax reliefs for new investment to enhance the UK’s energy security. We recommend that the Treasury examine how a similar low-carbon Investment Allowance could be introduced …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that it supports renewables deployment through schemes like Contracts for Difference (CfD) and that the Electricity Generator Levy (EGL) is charged on a different base and at a lower combined rate than the Energy Profits Levy (EPL).