Legal & Regulatory News

Independent review published of UK's net zero delivery plans

13 January 2023

On 13 January 2023, former energy secretary Chris Skidmore MP published his net zero review (the Review), outlining the opportunities offered by net zero transition.

The aim of the Review was to provide a comprehensive review of the UK's current net zero strategy (NZS), following the 2022 High Court judgment, which concluded that the UK Government's NZS was "unlawful" and "inadequate", and ordered that the NZS be reissued by the end of March 2023.

The Review details the significant opportunities associated with investing in a green economy, but also explores the current challenges associated with translating bold ambition into action. The Review provides 129 recommendations for the UK Government, all designed to embrace the opportunities from creating a green economy, including:-

  • developing an overarching government financing strategy by the end of 2023 to give long-term clarity to business and investors;
  • accelerating market reforms to provide financial incentives for consumer flexibility;
  • using infrastructure to unlock net zero, including through the development of a cross-sectoral infrastructure strategy by 2025, and reforming the planning system to allow for more energy efficiency projects;
  • establishing an Office for Net Zero Delivery to be responsible for establishing net zero delivery in public policy;
  • expanding the UK Government's public reporting on net zero aims and developing a new engagement plan;
  • introducing more green housing projects by legislating for the Future Homes Standard, meaning no new homes would be built with a gas boiler from 2025;
  • conducting a strategic review of the UK's international leadership on climate change by 2023; and
  • ramping up investment in new research and development projects focussed on combating climate change.

Click here to read the Review.

Click here to view the press release.