CCC annual report to parliament – Friends of the Earth reaction

Commenting on the Climate Change Committee’s annual report to parliament, Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Today’s progress report is a damning assessment of the government’s new carbon reduction strategy. Its own advisors say there are now only credible plans for less than a quarter of the emissions cuts needed to meet the UK’s legally binding climate targets – an alarming backwards step from last year when just 39% of plans were deemed fit for purpose.

“The High Court ruling won by Friends of the Earth last year, alongside Client Earth and the Good Law Project, forced the government to publish a revised net zero strategy in March after its previous plans were found to be unlawful. This report shows the government’s plans are falling even further short of what’s needed.

“The government’s advisors are also clear that the UK has lost its global standing as a leader on climate change by backing further oil and gas extraction and plans for a highly controversial new coal mine in Cumbria.

“There are myriad reasons why the government must accelerate climate action, not least because of the very real impacts we’re already witnessing such as record-breaking wildfires in Canada and a deadly heatwave in India. We also stand to benefit in the way of jobs, economic growth and lower energy bills. Despite all this, the Prime Minister and his government are clearly lagging well behind – they must take immediate action to get back on track. One of the climate solutions that could and should be rolled out quickly is a fully funded street-by-street insulation programme, targeted first at the neighbourhoods that need it most, which will also help to prevent another winter of hardship for those most affected by soaring living costs.”