Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Defra told us that it has looked very carefully into the question of carbon emissions.57...
Conclusion
Defra told us that it has looked very carefully into the question of carbon emissions.57 Its analysis so far suggests that carbon emissions resulting from shipping goods from Australia to the UK are not the most significant factor when looking at the carbon footprint of different sorts of production. The Department for International Trade added that it has modelled the environmental impact of the UK’s agreement with Australia and it does not think the greenhouse gas emissions of UK production will change much although transport has to be looked at as a whole.58 We asked Defra whether emissions outside territorial waters are counted when measuring the UK’s carbon emissions. Defra did not know but said that the quantitative assessment of environmental impacts is a very live topic across the world.59 The Department for International Trade wrote to us after the evidence session to confirm that its transport emissions modelling uses the whole distance between two trading partners, and captures the emissions associated with travel in non-territorial waters. It applies sensitivity analysis using the shortest and longest typical maritime routes between two trading partners to estimate the distance travelled by shipping freight.60 The NAO noted that the UK’s target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 is set on a territorial basis and does not include emissions from goods produced overseas and traded with the UK.61 53 Qq 21–22 54 Q 12 55 Q 13 56 Q 14 57 Q 23 58 Q 24 59 Q 26 60 Letter from Permanent Secretary, DIT, to the Chair of the Public Accounts, 4 February 2022 https://committees. parliament.uk/publications/8916/documents/152325/default/ 61 C&AG’s report, para 3.6 16 Progress with trade negotiations 3 Transparency and scrutiny Transparency of information
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.9 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: From April 2023 4.10 In line with international obligations, the government will continue to ensure a high level of protection of the environment in new trade agreements. The government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections and has made clear that it will not compromise on these. 4.11 DIT, working with other government departments including DEFRA, is fully committed to upholding the UK’s high environmental standards and ensuring that trade will not come at the expense of the environment or prevent us from meeting the government’s ambitious net zero by 2050 climate change target. Trade has a role in supporting these environmental commitments and the department is working bilaterally and multilaterally to achieve these aims. The impact assessments for the UK-Japan CEPA, UK-Australia FTA, and the UK-New Zealand FTA set out the environmental impacts of the agreements. 4.12 DIT will work closely with DEFRA and other government departments to monitor the impact of free trade agreements. 4.13 Along with the department’s monitoring commitments, DIT has also committed to publishing a comprehensive ex-post evaluation of the UK-Australia agreement within 5 years of its entry into force. DIT will work with other government departments to assess the impact and effectiveness of the agreement and its implementation. This will cover a range of impacts, including the environment.