Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
Unclear who holds responsibility for overseeing the entire net zero innovation framework.
Recommendation
DESNZ told us that it had overall responsibility for delivering carbon budgets and oversight of a “whole government effort” to reach net zero.33 The Net Zero Innovation Board (the Board), chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Advisor provides advice to DESNZ on the Innovation Framework.34 However, there is no single entity looking at how well the innovation system as a whole is working.35 It is not clear who is responsible for the delivery of the overall Framework and who is responsible for overseeing end-to-end progress across the innovation process in the individual technology areas.36
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to strengthen governance around end-to-end progress on net zero technologies by agreeing a set of actions and responsibilities between the Sub-IRIG and NZIB by Spring 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2024 4.2 DESNZ has overall responsibility in government for the UK’s net zero target and ensuring the whole of government works effectively to achieve it. The government has established arrangements for coordinating the main departments including the Domestic and Economic Affairs (Energy, Climate and Net Zero) Committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for considering matters relating to energy and to the delivery of the UK’s domestic and international climate strategy. 4.3 Officials in DESNZ work with counterparts across government to coordinate action and manage cross-departmental risks and to ensure net zero is embedded in government policy and decision-making. The setting of common goals is also achieved through Outcome Delivery Plans, and the sector specific public commitments in the recent Net Zero Growth Plan, help to drive accountability for achieving net zero in each leading department. 4.4 For overall net zero delivery governance, the Net Zero Integrated Review Implementation sub-Group (sub-IRIG) comprises senior officials from across government with responsibility for establishing and implementing a cross-government net zero delivery strategy. 4.5 The Net Zero Innovation Board (NZIB), chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser with representatives from across government, is responsible for providing coordinated and strategic oversight on net zero R&I programmes and ensuring alignment with government priorities. 4.6 A set of actions and responsibilities between the Sub-IRIG and NZIB will be agreed to strengthen governance around the end-to-end cross-government progress on net zero technologies. This will include identifying key interdependencies between R&I programmes and wider net zero policy, regulation and investment, and mitigating challenges as they are identified.