Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Paragraph: 88
Other Defence organisations lack detailed plans to achieve net zero by 2050.
Conclusion
We note with interest the RAF setting itself a demanding target for reducing carbon emissions—a decade ahead of the Government’s 2050 goal—and look forward to examining the detailed plan for how it will be achieved. The RAF has also set out clear milestones towards achieving its 2040 ambition, aiming for a net zero airbase by 2025 and a net zero RAF estate by 2030, but milestones are not plans and Defence and Climate Change 33 programmes. We have not seen similar plans setting out milestones and targets for all other Top-Level Budget holders and enabling organisations to achieve net zero by 2050.
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Royal Navy is focused on setting ambitious emissions reduction targets for the next 10 years and limiting mid-term impacts. For the Army, further work is required to fully establish operational emissions and carbon sequestration potential, while departmental work on understanding risks and decarbonisation is being further matured.
Paragraph Reference:
88
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
. 10 First Special Report: Defence and Climate Change The MOD’s stated 2050 strategic ambition is to contribute to the UK’s legal commitment to reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050, where it is practical to do so and not detrimental to our national security. This position reinforces that the Department’s primary purpose remains to protect the UK and its interests. It also reflects that in 2050 the MOD is still likely to be operating platforms that require hydrocarbons to maintain its ability to fight and win in a climate changed world. Through tools such as the Defence Climate Risk Analysis Model and a sectoral approach to emissions, the MOD has built an indicative view of how UK national level policies could affect Defence. This work is being further matured across the Department to understand the actual risk to Defence outputs, the technology that can be employed to mitigate and decarbonise and to build an approach that preserves both capability levels and interoperability with Allies and Partners. It is this work that has resulted in the publication of the Defence Net Zero Aviation Strategy in July 2023 and will inform the development of departmental decarbonisation plans. In terms of internal target setting, through the delegated model, each organisation is responsible for its own objectives. This is guided by the central Departmental ambition, Defence Plan targets and initiatives. For example, the Chief of the Air Staff set the RAF the ambitious target to be Net Zero by 2040. This stretch target was designed to instil the urgency required to keep pace with accelerating aviation sector innovation and build momentum behind the change required. It has provided the drive for innovation, such as work to synthesize drop-in aviation fuel from direct air carbon capture. The Royal Navy is focussed on setting ambitious emissions reduction targets for the next 10 years and limiting impacts in the mid-term, noting that much of their capability has already been recapitalised. Longer term goals will evolve over time and will align as far as possible to commercial shipping. The Army approach aligns with the UK’s Net Zero ambition. However, further work is required to fully establish operational emissions and potential for carbon sequestration to enable a holistic view on the Army’s contribution to Net Zero.