Government launches net zero review

Former energy minister Chris Skidmore has launched a review of net zero, focussing on the UK's fight against climate change maximising economic growth and ensuring energy security and affordability for consumers and businesses.

The review will focus on the UK’s fight against climate change maximising economic growth - while ensuring energy security and affordability for consumers and businesses.

The review will be lead by Chris Skidmore MP, former energy minister, and was commissioned by Business and Energy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg.

The target for the UK to reach net zero by 2050 is still in place.

The government's Net Zero Strategy was published a year ago, setting out an overarching approach to carbon neutrality. The new review intends to identify ways to deliver the legally binding target of net zero by 2050 in a way that is pro-business and pro-growth.

The review will investigate the most pro-business, pro-growth and economically efficient path to net zero, how to maximise the economic opportunities and increase innovation, investment, exports and jobs and the economic costs and benefits of new policies and technologies.

The review will consult with consumers, investors, industry leaders and experts and will consider a range of evidence. Skidmore will hold roundtables around the country to gather views and will report a set of recommendations to the government by the end of the year.

Skidmore said: "The UK continues to lead the world on tackling climate change, having been the first G7 country to commit in law to net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

"This review seeks to ‘double down’ on how we can ensure that our energy transition happens at the same time as maximising the economic opportunity for businesses and households across the country, providing huge opportunities for innovation, investment, exports and jobs. I want to ensure that net zero isn’t just viewed as the right thing to do for our environment- but becomes an essential driver of economic growth.

"I’m kicking off a 3-month review today to find the best ways of making this happen - speaking to as many people in as many sectors and regions as possible, to ensure the review generates fresh policy ideas that can ensure we deliver a ‘big bang’ moment for net zero."

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