Select committee: Environment and Climate Change Committee

Conclusion 25

1st Report - In our hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goals Published 12 Oct 2022 Paragraph 135
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Businesses have a key role to play in enabling behaviour change to meet climate and environmental goals, including through increasing the affordability and availability of products and services with lower climate and environmental impacts and by engaging their customers and employees. Many businesses are keen to take on this role and there are some excellent ongoing initiatives led by businesses, but challenges arising from the policy and regulatory environment are constraining efforts.

From: Environment and Climate Change Committee, 1st Report - In our hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goals, paragraph 135, 12 October 2022

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 21 December 2022 (deadline 12 December 2022).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the committee's report and states that it has "carefully considered all the committee's conclusions and recommendations", responding mainly by pointing to existing strategies and policies, with some further action to follow.

  • On the public engagement strategy sought by April 2023, the response points to the Net Zero Strategy and says a revised 25 Year Environment Plan will set out the approach to "enabling green choices, including through engagement".
  • On a frequent flyer levy, the government says it "was minded to retain APD as the principal tax on the aviation sector", citing concerns about administrative complexity and data handling. It does not commit to a call for evidence.
  • On Covid-19 lessons, it agrees there "may be useful lessons" and says it "will take this recommendation into consideration" as part of ongoing policy development.
  • On Extended Producer Responsibility, it recognises its importance and says it will consult next year on reviewing existing producer responsibility systems. It is "considering" options for textiles.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error