The Committee on Climate Change report published today which calls on the Government to deliver zero carbon emissions by 2050 for the UK has been welcomed by a wide range of business, industry and environmental organisations.

According to the National Infrastructure Commission, the new report is highlighting difficult – but achievable – steps necessary to deliver a zero carbon UK economy.

Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt said:

“Today’s report highlights the importance of urgent, concerted action to protect the UK’s economy and environment from the impacts of climate change. Future generations won’t forgive us if we don’t act together and with a sharp focus. But to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, we must put in place the infrastructure we need to change how we travel and how we power and heat our homes and businesses.

“It is essential that the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy, expected this autumn, sets out a robust and effective plan for funding and delivering these changes.”

Welcoming the CCC report, the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) flagged up the central role that decentralised energy will play in delivering the CCC’s net zero ambitions. Dr Tim Rotheray, Director of the ADE said that more decentralised energy in the UK would support the country’s move to net zero, commenting:

“Decentralised energy provides cost effective access to local energy, delivering huge CO2 benefits, and provides more control and better managed demand on the energy system for both consumers and business customers.”

“We need an energy system that reduces energy waste, is more flexible, is customer focussed, and can reuse waste heat. Decentralised energy does all those things and more. Decentralised energy can deliver at scale and can compete with the traditional outdated model of only using large scale energy generators. “

John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK said the CCC had “clearly thrown down the gauntlet to the government over delivering increased ambition.”

“The committee has spelt out that if we want to maintain our credibility and any leadership on climate then the government can no longer faff around with promises and half measures. It needs to have plausible, deliverable plans….what nobody can argue is that the government’s business as usual, steady-as-she-goes approach will suffice.”

CBI - step change needed in Government policy, business action and the way we live

The CBI, the UK’s leading business organisation, said the report and recommendations marked “a new dawn for climate change action in the UK.”

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Economist, said:

“The UK, and its Devolved Administrations, already have ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions across a range of sectors. But the evidence that the UK must go a major step further and become carbon neutral by 2050 is substantial.

“We have already made a good start, especially in the energy sector. …But if we are to reach the new target, we need a step change in Government policy, business action and the way each of us lives our lives.”

Commenting on the Committee’s call for a just transition for workers as ‘a crucial element of a low-carbon transition’, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The Committee on Climate Change is clear that the change we need can be achieved. The government must now make sure there is a clear and funded path. And it must be a just transition for working people.

“Trade unions stand ready to do our part. Workers who are at the forefront of dealing with the challenges of climate change must have a central voice in plans. A quick and successful transition will need agreements with unions to retrain people with jobs at risk for new work in low carbon industry with good pay and conditions.”

Anglian Water CEO supports call for UK to be carbon neutral by 2050

Anglian Water Chief Executive Peter Simpson also added his support for the Committee’s advice to the Government for more ambitious climate targets.

"We have seen first hand how ambitious carbon targets can disrupt established practice, drive innovation, and significantly reduce costs and environmental impacts. Anglian has already made huge strides towards becoming a carbon neutral business by 2050. In 2010 we set industry leading carbon targets for 2020. By 2015 we had already beaten those targets.”

Peter Simpson is among a number of leading business organisations CEOs from a cross-section of European industry to sign a letter from The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) to all European Heads of State and Government urging them to endorse an EU-wide strategy for climate neutrality by 2050.

Commenting on the CCC report, Eliot Whittington, Director of the CLG said:

“It is vital the UK Government follows the advice of the Committee on Climate Change and sets its goal of securing net zero emissions from our economy by 2050. The report clearly sets out that such a target is achievable and affordable, putting the UK on course to keep global warming to as little as 1.5°C if the rest of the world acts with a similar level of ambition.

“A 2050 trajectory will send a clear signal to business and investors that they should plan for a zero carbon future, focussing the immense innovative capacity of the UK economy on the new industries that will be created as the world steps up its response to climate change.”

“Setting the target is only the first step. Most importantly the UK needs to set out how it will deliver a thriving, competitive zero carbon economy building on the good work of the Clean Growth and Industrial Strategies. This will require leadership from the top, clear commitment in every government department and close collaboration between government and business and other parts of the economy.”

A business briefing on the report by the CLG, which is convened by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) says that “narrow, siloed approaches will not deliver the system-wide change required.”

“Decarbonising the UK economy can only be achieved if it is treated as a high-level cross government priority; the cornerstone of the country’s economic strategy.”

The briefing also highlights the key role identified by the Committee for HM Treasury:

“While the overall economy-wide costs of decarbonisation are eminently affordably there will be significant costs in some sectors and parts of the economy and there will be upfront investments that take a while to payback with benefits. Only the Treasury can provide the necessary effective leadership on managing the fiscal and distributional issues that arise.”