Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
The Department reiterated that local government is key to achieving net zero particularly in delivering...
Conclusion
The Department reiterated that local government is key to achieving net zero particularly in delivering emission reductions in buildings, transport and waste management.45 Government analysis suggests that more than 30% of emissions reductions to deliver the Sixth Carbon Budget rely to some extent on local authority involvement, and in evidence submitted to us the Local Government Association noted that net zero can only be achieved with decarbonisation happening across the country, which requires local leadership.46 Despite this, the Energy Systems Catapult told us that some sub-national actors have very few powers in relation to net zero, making choices and delivery of important infrastructure such as heat networks and electric vehicle charging challenging.47 Also in written evidence, Core Cities UK, an alliance of 11 cities, highlighted the importance of ‘place-based policy’ and that it was therefore critical that government continues to devolve powers to cities and city regions.48
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2022 4.2 In the Net Zero Strategy, the government has already set out how it will work with local government on the issues the Committee have raised. 4.3 The department will do this by creating a Local Net Zero Forum where the department will discuss local net zero issues with local government as it is critical that local government are involved in discussions about their role in net zero. 4.4 The department is in the process of setting the Local Net Zero Forum up and it will have its first meeting by summer 2022. 4.5 The commitment in the Net Zero Strategy is that the government will explore simplifying and consolidating funds which target net zero initiatives at the local level, where this is the most effective approach to making progress on net zero. This is one of the issues the government will discuss in the Forum.