Conclusion 10

We asked the Department about the recent decision to allow deep coal mining in Whitehaven, Cumbria and how this aligned with the government’s intention to move away from depending on fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources. The Department told us that the mine in question was for coking coal rather than producing power, a necessary fuel for steel production for which there is, currently, no green substitute. 11 Qq 18-19, 23 12 C&AG’s Report, para 2.2, Figure 6 13 Q 30; C&AG’s Report, paras 3, 16, 3.15-3.16 14 Qq 31, 33, 45 15 Qq 58-60; C&AG’s Report, para 3.15 Achieving Net Zero 11 The Department stated that the steel industry was expected to decarbonise later than other sectors but accepted that the UK nonetheless needed to move to clean steel. More broadly, the Department commented that it is not possible simply to “switch off” certain high-emitting industries and acknowledged that there is a need to help the public better understand that net zero will come in stages with some industries decarbonising later than others.16 We asked that the Department ensures it publishes targets and milestones encompassing all sectors and that these are brought together and updated regularly so the public can see, in one place, what progress has been made.17 Appraising policies and projects