Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
Government's net zero innovation plans lack clear articulation and comprehensive public reporting.
Recommendation
DESNZ suggested that while it is a complex picture and the delivery plan was a first attempt at publishing details on net zero innovation, it accepted that government could be better at articulating its plans towards net zero.57 DESNZ said that it has produced several “weighty documents”, including the net zero strategy, the Framework and the delivery plan. It acknowledged that the Net Zero Strategy does not provide all the detail that Parliament, businesses and other interested parties might need.58 It did not, however, see a need for a single document, instead explaining that there are “several layers of plans and strategies” that feed into updated versions of the overall net zero strategy.59 In addition, some major government net zero innovation programmes, such as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, require public reporting of spend and risks because they are part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio. However, this requirement does not apply to many of the technologies included in the Framework.60 52 Qq 11, 12 53 Q 13 54 Q 47 55 C&AG’s Report, para 2.17 56 Qq 16, 64, 57 Qq 74, 75, 79 58 Q 74 59 Qq 64, 74 60 Q 16 14 Support for innovation to deliver net zero
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to enhance the articulation of its net zero plans and reporting, with DESNZ intending to publish an update on the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan's progress by Spring 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 7.2 DESNZ intends to publish an update on the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan’s progress by the end of the current Spending Review period in 2025.