Newspaper Column 25th September - Net Zero

The big news last week was the Prime Minister’s announcements on a new path to Net Zero.

Reaching Net Zero and becoming more environmentally friendly and sustainable is a key goal for the Government, but since we started that journey, which we have been doing very well on, previously unforeseen circumstances have meant that the Government has had to consider how it can best deliver this result, while bearing the overall impact on the public to mind.

Things such as the COVID pandemic and the Russian war on Ukraine have caused massive increases in the cost of living, which in turn mean that currently some of the measures previously set out, such as around the rollout of electric vehicles and discontinuation of petrol vehicles, and modifications to properties to promote energy efficiency, were becoming increasingly difficult to deliver from an affordability perspective for the public, particularly given the tighter timescales we were following.

The debate about climate change is stuck between two extremes: those who want to deny climate change or abandon Net Zero altogether because the costs are too high, and those who want to go further and faster with no regard to the cost to people’s lives or how much our country has already achieved compared to others. We need to change this debate – and forge a credible path to reach Net Zero by 2050 that brings people with us and is properly transparent about the choices involved.

It is to the Prime Minister’s credit that he has recognised this, been pragmatic, and set about adopting a more sensible, proportionate, and realistic approach to meeting Net Zero that eases the burdens on working people.

This includes:

· Easing the transition to electric vehicles from 2030 to 2035, in line with other similar countries

· Giving families far more time to transition to heat pumps – and exempting altogether households where this simply doesn’t make sense, while significantly increasing grants to upgrade boilers

· Scrapping onerous energy efficiency requirements – and not forcing people to make alterations

· NO rules on carpooling, seven different bins, more expensive meat and NO new taxes on flying

· Supporting new oil and gas in the North Sea so we are less reliant on foreign imports

At the same time as this, the Government is also:

· Speeding up connections to an expanded national grid infrastructure.

· Providing £150million in new funding for green research and development.

· Continuing funding for Sizewell C and support for small modular nuclear reactors.

We can do this because over the last decade, we have over-delivered on our targets (the fastest reduction in emissions in the G7, down almost 50 per cent compared to 1990), technological advances which have reduced costs (such as offshore wind

costs down by 70 per cent more than we projected in 2016), and higher than forecast adoption of clean technologies like electric vehicles.

Part of my role in Parliament is as a member of the cross party Environmental Audit Select Committee. It is only right that major decisions such as this are given proper scrutiny, and we have already held a meeting, and as a result will be writing to the Prime Minister, welcoming some aspects of the announcement, but seeking further detailed clarification on his assertion that all targets can still be met, including how. We will also ask for a Minister to attend a session of our committee, to ensure scrutiny, which would normally have happened at the dispatch box.

The journey to Net Zero is an important one for us all, but I am pleased that the Prime Minister has recognised the importance of delivering this in a realistic and achievable way, and look forward to continuing to ensure the Government delivers on this commitment in the future.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.