Recommendation 8

Despite its track record, the Department considers that the Strategy will have greater permanence than previous climate policies that have subsequently been reduced or withdrawn.24 This is partly because the Strategy was developed in conjunction with HM Treasury’s 2021–2 to 2024–5 multi-year spending review, and partly because it contains long-term targets and trajectories which are grounded in legal commitments to carbon budgets up to 2033–7, and then ultimately net zero by 2050.25 However, it is arguable as to whether three-year departmental budgets can provide sufficient confidence to the private sector.26 HM Treasury told us that it does not want to give overconfidence or false confidence to the partners it works with in the private sector.27 Influencing consumer behaviours