Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee

Net zero and UN climate summits

Closed Opened 6 Mar 2020 Closed 17 May 2021 11 recommendations 3 conclusions

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)

The BEIS Committee has launched a standing inquiry on the UK’s ‘Net Zero’ target and the UN Climate Summits. The Committee expects this inquiry to run for the duration of this Parliament. It will consider issues including: Progress in delivering the UK’s 2050 net zero target; Progress in cutting emissions to meet the UK’s five-yearly Carbon Budgets; The role of BEIS in leading climate change mitigation policy across Government; The potential role of business and industry in the net zero agenda; Preparations for the 2021 Climate Summit in Glasgow, and the UK’s performance as Summit host; The ongoing role of the UK in international climate talks and initiatives to tackle climate change. Background On 27 June 2019 the UK’s ‘Net Zero’ target came into force, setting a new goal to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050. The Net Zero target replaces the UK’s previous goal to reduce UK emissions by 80% by 2050, established by the Climate Change Act 2008. The net zero target aligns UK legislation with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, as agreed by the world’s nations at the 2015 UN Climate Summit (COP21). The Paris Agreement sets an aim to limit global temperature rise to "well below 2°C" above pre-industrial levels and to "pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C". In September 2019 the UK was awarded the Presidency of the next UN Climate Summit (COP26), in partnership with Italy. The Summit will now take place in Glasgow in November 2021. Calls for evidence The Committee is working with the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST) on a survey of priorities for COP26, the results of which will feed into this inquiry. As part of this exercise POST is also creating a database of COP26 experts. This is an invitation to anyone with expertise in areas relating to COP26 to provide feedback. For more information and to take the survey please visit https://post.parliament.uk/horizon-scanning/cop26-expert-database/ .

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 6 March 2020.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report on 5 March 2021.

The government's response

Published 17 May 2021. The deadline was 5 May 2021.

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

The government's response sets out its COP26 goals and how progress is monitored, but on most of the Committee's requests it commits only to update Parliament "in due course", and on the sixth carbon budget it will "consider in detail" the CCC's advice.

On measuring success, it restates five goals for the UK Presidency and says progress is monitored through two committees chaired by the Prime Minister and the COP President Designate, and by tracking commitments mandated by the Paris Agreement.
On scrutiny, it says the COP26 President "has agreed to select committee appearances in line with the proposal from committee chairs", shared with ministerial colleagues and officials given his travel. On recess dates, the Leader of the House will inform the House "in due course".
On the delegation and covid-19 arrangements, it says the delegation is still being finalised and health protection and contingency measures "remain in development". It will update Parliament "in due course" and is "considering robust contingency plans".
On the sixth carbon budget, it does not commit to accepting the advice in full. It will write to the Committee "once the timetable for laying the statutory instrument has been agreed" and will take into account the recommendations of the Climate Assembly UK.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Recommendations and conclusions

Recommendation 1Recommendation
Conclusion 2Conclusion
Recommendation 3Recommendation

All 14 recommendations and conclusions

Reports

Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report5 March 2021 · 14 items

All reports

Evidence

6 oral evidence sessionsLatest 23 June 2021
42 witnesses

All evidence

Recent activity

Letter from the Brazilian Senate's Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee on climate scrutiny1 March 2022, Correspondence
Letter from the Environment Committee of the New Zealand Parliament on climate scrutiny1 March 2022, Correspondence
Letter from the German Bundestag CDU/CSU parliamentary group on climate scrutiny1 March 2022, Correspondence

Meetings and visits

Recommendations and conclusions 14 shown

Recommendation 1

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We welcome the Government’s headline ambitions for COP26 but note that no details have yet been provided on how success will be measured against each of these goals. We recommend that the headline ambitions be expanded to a clear list of measures, with a set of criteria attached to each in terms of how success will be measured. We ask that the Government share these details with this Committee in its response to this report.

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Conclusion 2

Conclusion · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Concluded (the committee's words)

We welcome the assurances from the COP26 President on the level of resourcing that is available to the COP26 Unit. It is vital that, as the largest summit ever organised in the UK and a critical event in the global response to climate change, COP26 is provided the greatest levels of resourcing and is held in highest priority across Government.

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Recommendation 3

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

The success of COP26 is dependent on effective diplomacy. It remains unclear whether the COP26 Unit has been assigned a dedicated diplomatic team, nor the extent to which the diplomatic network is engaged further than having received correspondence from the Foreign and Development Secretary. We recommend that the COP26 President, alongside the Prime Minister and Foreign and Development Secretary, make it publicly clear that the full force of the British civil service is being appropriately applied to secure the desired outcomes from COP26 this November.

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Recommendation 4

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

It is essential that Parliament has sufficient opportunity to question the Government’s preparations for the COP26 summit. Opening the process up to scrutiny is key not only to ensure accountability in the planning and preparations to facilitate a successful Presidency, but also to promote public and stakeholder confidence in the work of the COP26 Unit.

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Recommendation 5

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We welcome the COP26 President’s commitment to appear before the Committee. We invite him to confirm his willingness to appear before the Committee on the three occasions set out above, and to provide detail on any other approaches to facilitating Parliamentary scrutiny of COP26 preparations that he intends to take. This approach should be extended to all devolved legislators.

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Conclusion 6

Conclusion · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Concluded (the committee's words)

We welcome the fact that questions to the COP26 President are now included on the regular rota of questions to Government Departments on the floor of the House. We welcome the opportunity to have questioned the COP26 President at the despatch box on 24 February, in his first appearance in this capacity.

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Conclusion 7

Conclusion · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Concluded (the committee's words)

We welcome the COP26 President’s engagement with APPGs and his plans to explore the potential for further briefings with these groups, which are a key link between parliamentarians and wider stakeholder groups. However, this should not be considered to be a substitute for public scrutiny by Parliament, which will be key to ensuring transparency and accountability.

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Recommendation 8

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We recommend that the COP26 President work closely with the Leader of the House to align the autumn recess with one of the COP26 weeks in November. We note that Net zero and UN climate summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report 11 the first week of COP26 also coincides with Parliament week and will support any initiative both to maximise the opportunities for Member participation at COP26 and public engagement with the process.

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Recommendation 9

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

The inclusion of backbench Members within the UK’s COP26 delegation would widen access to UK parliamentarians on a cross-party basis in the year of the UK’s Presidency. We recommend that the Government follows the precedent set by previous COP Presidencies, by expanding its delegation and widening access to parliamentarians. We recommend that the COP26 President engage with the Committee and other parliamentarians on the appropriate composition of the delegation and update the Committee as soon as any decision is made. The leaders and relevant ministers of devolved governments should also form part of the UK delegation.

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Recommendation 10

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We welcome the assurances that public health is a priority for the COP26 Unit, while acknowledging the challenges presented by continuing uncertainties. We recommend that the UK Government engages on this issue constructively with the Scottish Government. The Government should share, in response to this report, the proposed health protection and contingency measures it will put in place in various scenarios relating to the continuing pandemic.

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Recommendation 11

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We welcome the stated aim of delivering an in-person summit and agree that this would allow for the most effective engagement with the widest number of countries— particularly those most at risk of climate impacts. However, the Government must also plan for the distinct possibility that large parts of the summit will have to be moved online or downscaled because of prevailing risks from covid-19. We recommend it outlines the steps it is taking during planning to make COP26 a success regardless of the format. We further welcome the intention to explore how digital events can increase participation in the summit and request further details as they become available.

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Recommendation 12

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We ask that the COP26 President sets out how the conference procedures will be adjusted to reflect the possibility that delegations from certain countries (where, for example, covid vaccination roll out has been slower or where new variants of the covid virus are discovered) may not be able to fully participate physically in the conference; and what steps will be taken to ensure equality of access to the conference between developed nations (where vaccine roll out has been quicker) and some developing nations (where vaccine roll out has been slower). In addition, in the scenario that country delegations are reduced in size, we ask the COP26 President to set out how other important stakeholders—such as city leaders and business leaders—will be invited to take part in proceedings if they are unable to physically be at the conference.

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Recommendation 13

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We welcome the Government’s decision to accept the CCC’s advice on the level of the UK’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution. In the year of the UK’s COP26 Presidency this sends the right signal about the Government’s commitment to domestic climate policy. However, while we acknowledge the need to fully assess the sixth budget advice, we reiterate the need for the Government to show global leadership by taking 12 Net zero and UN climate summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report decisive action on the UK’s domestic ambitions. We recommend that the Government commit to accepting the sixth budget advice in full and lay the Statutory Instrument required to give effect to it as early as possible.

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Recommendation 14

Recommendation · Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report · Addressed to Department for Business and Trade

Recommended (the committee's words)

We further encourage the Government to follow the advice of the CCC in engaging with the public and other stakeholders early to ensure that necessarily detailed delivery plans accompany legislative targets in a timely fashion, building in the considerations of Climate Assembly UK.

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Reports

1 report

Third Report - Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Scrutiny of Preparations for COP26 – interim report

HC No.: HC 1265
Published: 5 Mar 2021
Items: 14
Government response: Government response published 17 May 2021 (deadline 5 May 2021). Read the government's response ↗

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions

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Date	Session and witnesses	Source
23 Jun 2021	Committee on COP26: The role of business at COP26 and preparations in Glasgow Andrew Griffith MP · COP26, Matt Toombs · COP26 Unit, Cabinet Office, Nigel Topping · COP26	View ↗
27 Apr 2021	Oral evidence session; Oral evidence Anna Brown · Teach the Future, Emily Hickson · We Mean Business, Jamie Clarke · Climate Outreach, Jamie Peters · Friends of the Earth, Josh Tregale · Teach the Future, Michelle McGinty · Glasgow City Council, Miranda Barker · British Chamber of Commerce, Sam Peacock · SSE, Stephanie Maier · ClimateAction100+	View ↗
19 Jan 2021	Oral evidence session; Oral evidence Archie Young · Cabinet Office, Ashley Ibbett · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Joanna Whittington · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Jo Shanmugalingam · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Peter Hill · Cabinet Office, Ros Eales · Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Alok Sharma · Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	View ↗
12 Jan 2021	Energy White Paper; Oral evidence Chris Stark · Committee on Climate Change, Deirdre Michie OBE · Oil and Gas UK, Emma Pinchbeck · Energy UK, Frank Aaskov · Manufacturers' Climate Change Group, Nina Skorupska CBE · The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, Richard Leese · Mineral Products Association, Richard Woolley · Chemical Industries Association, Sam French · Decarbonised Gas Alliance	View ↗
1 Dec 2020	COP and Net Zero; Oral evidence Claire O'Neill · World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Dr Emily Shuckburgh OBE · Cambridge Zero, University of Cambridge, Dr Jennifer Allan · University of Cardiff, Farhana Yamin · Track 0, Pete Betts · Chatham House	View ↗
2 Jul 2020	Net zero and UN Climate Summits; Committee on Climate Change; Business and Energy Representatives Andrew Large · Energy Intensive Users Group, Eliot Whittington · Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group, James Diggle · Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Jim Skea · Just Transition Commission, Jim Watson · Climate Assembly UK, Mike Thompson · Committee on Climate Change, Sarah Allan · Involve, The Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS · Committee on Climate Change, The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Committee on Climate Change	View ↗

Who gave evidence

42 witnesses

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Witness	Organisation	Sessions
Andrew Griffith MP · UK Net Zero Business Champion	COP26	1
Andrew Large · Chair	Energy Intensive Users Group	1
Anna Brown · Campaign Coordinator	Teach the Future	1
Archie Young · COP26 UK Lead Climate Negotiator	Cabinet Office	1
Ashley Ibbett · Director General, Trade, Europe and Analysis	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	1
Chris Stark · Chief Executive Officer	Committee on Climate Change	1
Claire O'Neill · Managing Director, Climate & Energy	World Business Council for Sustainable Development	1
Deirdre Michie OBE · Chief Executive	Oil and Gas UK	1
Dr Emily Shuckburgh OBE · Director	Cambridge Zero, University of Cambridge	1
Dr Jennifer Allan · Lecturer in International Relations	University of Cardiff	1
Eliot Whittington · Director	Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group	1
Emily Hickson · Coalition Member	We Mean Business	1
Emma Pinchbeck · Chief Executive	Energy UK	1
Farhana Yamin · Chief Executive Officer	Track 0	1
Frank Aaskov · Coordinator	Manufacturers' Climate Change Group	1
James Diggle · Head of Energy and Climate Change	Confederation of British Industry (CBI)	1
Jamie Clarke · Executive Director	Climate Outreach	1
Jamie Peters · Interim Director of Campaigning Impact	Friends of the Earth	1
Jim Skea · Chair	Just Transition Commission	1
Jim Watson · Expert Lead	Climate Assembly UK	1
Jo Shanmugalingam · Director General, Industrial Strategy, Science & Innovation	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	1
Joanna Whittington · Director General for Energy and Security	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	1
Josh Tregale · Campaign Coordinator	Teach the Future	1
Matt Toombs · Director of Partnerships and Engagement	COP26 Unit, Cabinet Office	1
Michelle McGinty · Head of COP26 Team	Glasgow City Council	1
Mike Thompson · Director of Analysis	Committee on Climate Change	1
Miranda Barker · Chair, Climate Challenge Group	British Chamber of Commerce	1
Nigel Topping · High Level Champion for Climate Action	COP26	1
Nina Skorupska CBE · Chief Executive	The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology	1
Pete Betts · Associate Fellow	Chatham House	1
Peter Hill · Chief Executive Officer	Cabinet Office	1
Richard Leese · Director	Mineral Products Association	1
Richard Woolley · Head of Energy and Climate Change	Chemical Industries Association	1
Ros Eales · COP26 Chief Operating Officer	Cabinet Office	1
Rt Hon Alok Sharma · COP 26 President	Cabinet Office	1
Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Secretary of State	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy	1
Sam French · Interim Chair	Decarbonised Gas Alliance	1
Sam Peacock · Director of Corporate Affairs and Strategy	SSE	1
Sarah Allan · Head of Engagement	Involve	1
Stephanie Maier · Member of the Global Steering Committee	ClimateAction100+	1
The Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS · Deputy Chair	Committee on Climate Change	1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Chair	Committee on Climate Change	1

Correspondence

29 letters

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Published	Direction	Letter
1 Mar 2022	To committee	Letter from the Environment Committee of the New Zealand Parliament on climate scrutiny
1 Mar 2022	To committee	Letter from the Brazilian Senate's Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee on climate scrutiny
1 Mar 2022	To committee	Letter from German Bundestag Member Dr. Lukas Köhler on climate scrutiny
1 Mar 2022	To committee	Letter from the German Bundestag CDU/CSU parliamentary group on climate scrutiny
1 Mar 2022	To committee	Letter from the Australian Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on climate scrutiny
13 Jan 2022	To committee	Letter from the COP President on UK reporting to the UNFCCC
15 Sep 2021	To committee	Letter from the COP President Designate on the role of business, the public and civil society at COP26
26 Jul 2021	To committee	Letter from the Chair to the COP26 President-Designate on participation at COP26 and the role of business
13 Jul 2021	To committee	Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Education in response to their reply on climate change in education
8 Jul 2021	To committee	Letter from the UK Net Zero Business Champion relating to UK business participation in the Race to Zero
24 Jun 2021	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State for Education in relation to climate education
17 May 2021	To committee	Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State on preparations for COP26
14 May 2021	To committee	Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Education relating to climate change in education
5 Feb 2021	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair clarifying statements made to the Committee during the Net zero and UN climate summits session on 19th January 2021
21 Jan 2021	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair responding to the Committee’s Fourth Special Report: COP26: Principles and priorities
23 Dec 2020	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair regarding the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
23 Dec 2020	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair regarding the publication of the Energy White Paper
4 Dec 2020	To committee	Letter from the Chair to the Convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee regarding engagement with COP26
4 Dec 2020	To committee	Letter from the Convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee to the Chair regarding engagement with COP26
26 Nov 2020	To committee	Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State on the Committee's Special Report: COP26:Principles and priorites - a POST survey of expert views
25 Nov 2020	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State on the launch of the Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution
23 Apr 2020	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State on COP26
16 Apr 2020	To committee	Letter from Minister on CCUS
16 Apr 2020	To committee	Letter from Minister on budget
16 Apr 2020	To committee	Letter from Minister on plug-in car grants
19 Mar 2020	To committee	Letter from Chair to Kwasi Kwarteng on CCS
19 Mar 2020	To committee	Letter from Chair to Nadhim Zawahi on EVs
19 Mar 2020	To committee	Letter from Chair to Kwasi Kwarteng MP on energy efficiency
3 Mar 2020	From committee	Letter to the Prime Minister on COP26 dated February 4 2020

Meetings & visits

2 items

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Date	Type	Detail	Source
10 Jun 2021	Informal meeting	International Roundtable · Virtual meeting
15 Mar 2021	Informal meeting	Private meeting · Virtual Meeting