On 25th June the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) delivered it’s progress report to the Government. Each year it reports to Parliament, assessing progress in reducing UK emissions over the past year.
The Committee on Climate Change is an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008. Their purpose is to advise the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets and to report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change. You can find the report here.
This year, the report includes new advice to the UK Government on securing a green and resilient recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. It recommends that Ministers seize the opportunity to turn the COVID-19 crisis into a defining moment in the fight against climate change. Although a limited number of steps have been taken over the past year to support the transition to a net-zero economy and improve the UK’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, much remains to be done. For the first time, the Committee sets out its recommendations government department by government department.
In its new report, the Committee has assessed a wide set of measures and gathered the latest evidence on the role of climate policies in the economic recovery. Its report highlights five clear investment priorities in the months ahead:
1. Low-carbon retrofits and buildings that are fit for the future
2. Tree planting, peatland restoration, and green infrastructure
3. Energy networks must be strengthened
4. Infrastructure to make it easy for people to walk, cycle, and work remotely
5. Moving towards a circular economy.
A Parliamentary group called Reset, has also been established, with the aim to rebuild society in line with a Green New Deal.
Reset is an initiative of the cross party Parliamentary Group on the Green New Deal, bringing people and politicians together to shape the future. Through surveys, workshops, discussion groups, special parliamentary evidence sessions and other online events, we’re hoping to hear as many different voices as possible. And then we want to put those voices to work in the pursuit of a better way.
Questions that guide the Reset agenda include:
- What will life look like after Covid?
- Will we go back to the way things were? Do we want to?
- And if we don’t, then what changes do we want to make?
Reset is a chance for your voice to be heard, so that you can help shape a fairer, greener, future for the UK. Supported by a group of MPs from across the political spectrum, Reset aims to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us to listen, reflect, plan and act – together – to bring about real and lasting change.
Over the next two months, we’ll be running more surveys, hosting virtual discussion groups and workshops, gathering and publishing ideas, reports and policy proposals. Our ambition is to bring Parliament to the people. How much you get involved is up to you.
We want to hear from everyone – because everyone has been affected by the Covid crisis, everyone has a story to tell, and everyone has something to offer as we imagine the world to come.
To find out more and how to get involved see here https://reset-uk.org/