Unreliable Climate Emissions Projections

#56 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should consider the costs and benefits of bringing UK measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification (MMRV) in line with EU standards as a matter of urgency. Whilst progress on UK MMRV is ongoing, Government should aim to clarify where …

Report: Government response published

#55 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Some witnesses questioned the accuracy of methane emissions data from the oil and gas sector. While these data are not currently verified, we heard support for improved verification from both industry and the regulator. Ensuring confidence in the accuracy of …

Report: Government response published

#48 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We have concerns about waste crime. Some witnesses suggested that the illegal disposal of waste outside of regulated facilities may mean methane emissions from the sector are significantly higher than official figures. We were not convinced that the Government or …

Report: Government response published

#47 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should provide an update on this work, including target dates for when the projects are expected to achieve their aims to develop direct measurement of landfill emissions at site level.

Report: Government response published

#46 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: We heard that Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working to improve estimation of methane emissions from landfill, which would facilitate targeted action on methane at different areas of landfill sites, and an improved understanding of the issue …

Report: Government response published

#33 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should build on its work to improve the accuracy and reliability of agricultural emissions calculators for use on individual farms, in line with our recommendations regarding metrics in chapter 3.

Report: Government response published

#32 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: As noted in chapter 3, enhanced monitoring and verification of emissions at smaller scales not only improves the quality and accuracy of data for the UK’s National Inventory Report but also makes it possible to reward and encourage good practice …

Report: Government response published

#20 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: As scientific debate in this area evolves, the Government should monitor it closely and consider how additional metrics can be robustly employed at the sectoral and the business level to improve understanding of the UK’s emissions. As a first step, …

Report: Government response published

#19 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Nevertheless, the limitations of GWP100 must be taken seriously. As emission reduction measures may become ever more targeted at the level of individual sectors and businesses, precise understanding of their impact will be crucial. We welcomed the previous Government’s openness …

Report: Government response published

#18 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Several of our witnesses advocated the use of GWP* as an additional metric to GWP100 and moving towards a system of reporting using both metrics. GWP* aims to better represent the warming impact of greenhouse gases, accounting for their persistence …

Report: Government response published

#17 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The metrics used in measuring greenhouse gases have significant consequences for how their impact is understood, and what mitigation interventions are judged necessary. In line with international standards, the UK uses GWP100 to measure and report its emissions. However, we …

Report: Government response published

#16 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should look to international comparisons, and consider developing similar enhanced measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification (MMRV) regulations. In so doing, it must take detailed account of any costs and benefits. A comprehensive MMRV framework that meets these standards …

Report: Government response published

#15 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The UK has fallen behind the US and EU in the development of enhanced methane monitoring and verification regulation at the level of individual emitting sectors and sites. Though UK academics have led innovation in new monitoring techniques, we heard …

Report: Government response published

#14 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The advent of new satellite technologies offers opportunities for continuous global monitoring. However, they are best suited to discovering large leaks. A range of other approaches, including the tall tower network and drones, will remain necessary as different technologies can …

Report: Government response published

#13 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The Government should continue to fund and promote pioneering academic work in emissions measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification in the UK.

Report: Government response published

#22 — No BECCS projects in Track 1 despite importance for unachievable 2030 greenhouse gas removal targets

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The original 2030 targets for the CCUS programme, which the government has now told us are unachievable, included a goal for the UK to achieve 5 mtpa of engineered greenhouse gas removals. The bulk of this was expected to be …

Report: Government response published

#21 — Concerns raised about CCUS effectiveness and unaddressed methane leakage from LNG supply chains

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The Department recognised that there are some “contested views” concerning, for example, the effectiveness of CCUS in reducing emissions from gas–fired power stations.69 We received written evidence suggesting that there are higher levels of methane (a gas with significant greenhouse …

Report: Government response published

#19 — 2030 carbon capture and storage targets deemed unachievable by the Department

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: In the latter part of 2024, the Department successfully concluded negotiations with two of the Track 1 projects. In December 2024, the Department announced it had signed contracts with the first two projects at East Coast Cluster: Net Zero Teesside …

Report: Government response published

#6 — Set out urgent new carbon capture targets and clarify how to address net zero shortfall

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The Department has downgraded its ambitions for the CCUS programme, stating that the original 2030 ambitions are no longer achievable. The current CCUS programme is the government’s third attempt to introduce the technology. Compared with previous attempts, the government is …

Report: Government response published

#23 — BECCS considered essential for UK decarbonisation, despite reduced projected role by 2050.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Combining power generation using sustainably sourced biomass with carbon capture and storage (CCUS) has the potential to generate ‘negative emissions’–i.e. it could reduce the overall amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.65 Both the government and the Climate Change Committee (CCC), …

Report: Government response published

#22 — New Drax agreement offers limited impact on emissions and lacks BECCS investment incentives.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: There are other factors which cast doubt on whether the government has reached a good deal. The new support agreement with Drax reduces the level of allowed supply chain emissions for the fuel it burns, from 55.6 grams of CO2 …

Report: Government response published

#4 — Map critical path for BECCS deployment and develop contingency plans for decarbonisation goals.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The deployment of BECCS has been repeatedly delayed, even though it remains a key part of the government’s plans to decarbonise the UK. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) and DESNZ both see BECCS as essential to the UK achieving its …

Report: Government response published

#2 — Estimate cost and test effectiveness of monitoring increased biomass sustainability and Drax's sourcing.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DESNZ has not made clear how its plans to strengthen the sustainability rules might work in practice. In its Biomass Strategy, published in August 2023, DESNZ committed to develop and consult on a common sustainability framework which could be applied …

Report: Government response published

#53 — Investigate using the tax system to incentivise carbon footprint reduction in existing properties.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: As with the embodied and operational carbon recommendation (Para 138nb mbnj ) we believe that the Government should investigate how it can use the tax system to reduce the tax burden on properties that reduce their carbon footprint and/or increase …

Report: Government response published

#52 — Prioritise and incentivise building retrofitting over demolition by strengthening reuse requirements and reducing VAT.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Government should prioritise and incentivise retrofitting over demolition by strengthening requirements to reuse, repurpose and refurbish buildings before any demolition. It is contrary to the Government’s environmental objectives to incentivise carbon-intensive new building over the re-use of existing sites. To …

Report: Government response published

#51 — Prioritise strengthening policy focus on building retrofit and regeneration due to environmental benefits.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Although retrofit and regeneration of buildings is already encouraged in policy, it is often sidelined. Strengthening focus in this area should be prioritised, considering the range of benefits associated with doing so. (Conclusion, Paragraph 167)

Report: Government response published

#50 — Retrofitting existing buildings offers more sustainable and environmentally friendly housing solutions.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Retrofitting existing buildings is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than demolition and new construction. We accept that not all existing properties can be converted into residential buildings, and do not deny that some new homes do need to be built. …

Report: Government response published

#49 — Consult by April 2026 on financial incentives for lower embodied carbon products and manufacturing.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: The Government could also consider other financial incentives in product areas where the cost differential makes adoption of lower embodied carbon products unattractive and support for manufacturing set up of lower embodied carbon products. We recommend that the Government consult, …

Report: Government response published

#48 — Introduce eco-labelling for building products to popularise low-carbon materials in housebuilding.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Whilst the Government has taken initial steps to promote timber through the Timber Construction Roadmap, there remains a lack of clear incentives and guidance to encourage the adoption of low-carbon material in housebuilding. The Committee believes the Government should take …

Report: Government response published

#47 — Alternative building materials effectively reduce embodied carbon and support net zero ambitions.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Alternative building materials, such as timber and hemp, offer practical and effective ways to reduce the embodied carbon of buildings. Their use supports Government ambitions to reach net zero and continue to deliver on their sustainable housing target, in addition …

Report: Government response published

#46 — Update NPPF revision with clearer expectations and conduct consultation on embodied carbon reduction.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: The December 2024 revision of the NPPF should be updated to include clearer and stronger expectations on embodied carbon for new developments. The current Government should also honour the promise made by the previous Government and conduct a consultation on …

Report: Government response published

#45 — Revised NPPF lacks explicit reference to embodied carbon, limiting emission reduction.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: The revised NPPF does not contain explicit reference to embodied carbon, despite a widely held opinion that the NPPF must play a central role in supporting low-carbon housing. This oversight limits the NPPF’s ability to minimise carbon emissions from new …

Report: Government response published

#44 — Mandate major developers submit whole life carbon assessments for all planning applications.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Major developers should submit whole life carbon assessments as part of planning applications to local authorities; this should be mandatory for all major developments, as defined in the NPPF. The Government should consult on ways to financially incentivise housing development …

Report: Government response published

#43 — Accompany RICS whole life carbon assessment framework amendments with a formal statement.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: We would encourage any amendments made to the RICS whole life carbon assessment framework to be accompanied with a formal statement, detailing the amendments and confirming that they have been approved to become part of the UK industry standard. This …

Report: Government response published

#42 — Commission a review into Council Tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax for lower embodied carbon homes.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government commission a review into Council Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax and any other tax policies to consider the merit of offering lower bands of taxation for homes with lower levels of embodied carbon. (Recommendation, Paragraph …

Report: Government response published

#41 — Review taxation policies to incentivise homeowners, housebuilders, landlords, and tenants towards low-carbon homes.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: The Government should consider what other steps it could take to encourage low-carbon approaches to building, including reviewing taxation policies to incentivise home owners, housebuilders, landlords and tenants to favour homes with lower levels of embodied carbon. (Recommendation, Paragraph 143)

Report: Government response published

#40 — Develop progressively ratcheted carbon targets and set timeframe for mandatory whole-life carbon assessments.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Additionally: a. “We recommend that following the introduction of whole life carbon assessments, the Government should develop progressively ratcheted carbon targets for the built environment, to match the pathway to net zero set out in periodic carbon budgets. These ratcheting …

Report: Government response published

#39 — Establish RICS methodology as the UK industry standard for whole-life carbon assessments.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: We reiterate and support the recommendation given by our predecessor Committee on embodied carbon and whole-life carbon assessments: a. “The RICS Professional Statement on whole-life carbon assessments is fit for use and already familiar to UK industry. We recommend that, …

Report: Government response published

#38 — Accelerate introduction of policy to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment.

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: Reducing embodied carbon is vital to decreasing the carbon emissions of the built environment and meeting the UK’s legally binding climate targets. Considering that key milestones for reducing carbon emissions are rapidly approaching, the Government must accelerate the introduction of …

Report: Government response published

#18 —

Science and Technology Committee

Recommendation: If unabated natural gas is to play a role, the Government must explain how this is compatible with climate change targets, in particular the Sixth Carbon budget and a decarbonised electricity system by 2035. If it will not pursue a …

Report: Government response published

#66 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: Regulators must have a greater and clearer focus on mitigating methane, particularly with regards to monitoring and verification of emissions. The then Government’s conviction that regulation was clear and working well was not shared by a significant proportion of our …

Report: Government response published

#7 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The UK Government should use its expertise in monitoring and verification to encourage the establishment of an international body to verify Pledge participants’ methane action plans.

Report: Government response published

#12 —

Environment and Climate Change Committee

Recommendation: The UK pioneered top-down greenhouse gas modelling, and its bottom-up inventory is world-leading. However, further improvement in monitoring and verification regulation at the level of individual sectors could bring significant benefits, notably a) further increasing levels of confidence in the …

Report: Government response published

#8 —

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Climate change poses a grave threat to the flood resilience of communities, with the Climate Change Committee warning that warming of 4°C or more implies inevitable increases in flood risk even in the most ambitious adaptation scenarios considered. The Government …

Report: Government response published

#5 —

Work and Pensions Committee

Recommendation: Trustees will need detailed and regularly updated guidelines provided by the Pensions Regulator to explain how they should consider the effects of climate change on pension scheme members. We recommend that the Pensions Regulator continuously monitor and update these guidelines.

Report: Government response published

#63 —

International Development Committee

Recommendation: The volume of greenhouse gas emissions has a significant impact on the capacity of LDCs and SIDS to adapt to climate change. On 9 August 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its Sixth Assessment report, which the …

Report: Government response published

#62 —

International Development Committee

Recommendation: We believe that the current level of ICF is fundamentally over-reported, reducing the credibility of declarations and scope for achieving climate adaptation and resilience. We are calling for full transparency in the reporting of climate finance to enhance the ability …

Report: Government response published

#60 —

International Development Committee

Recommendation: Although the UK was rated among the better performers in this report, CARE stated that, like other countries, the data provided by the UK lacked clarity and completeness in terms of the recipients and programmes to be funded.132

Report: Government response published

#56 —

International Development Committee

Recommendation: Contributors raised significant concerns around the accuracy of the amount of global international climate finance that is being reported as pledged and disbursed for adaptation by the UK and other donor countries.123 In its report published in January 2021, CARE …

Report: Government response published

#55 —

International Development Committee

Recommendation: In its biennial progress report (December 2020), the Government stated that: Our funding will be new and in addition to our previous £5.8 billion ICF commitment.118 Many contributors criticised this statement for its interpretation of ‘new and additional’.119 The NGOs …

Report: Government response published