Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Net Zero Emissions Target

Tuesday 11 February 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The clean growth strategy outlines proposals to decarbonize all sectors of the UK economy throughout the 2020s.
  • The Minister believes that achieving net zero emissions is congruent with economic growth and presents a significant opportunity for the UK and globally.
  • The government is consulting on the option of accelerating the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars to align with net zero targets by 2050.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Howell Con
Economy Climate
Context

The question arises from the need to ensure fiscal measures support the UK's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

Question

What fiscal steps he is taking to ensure that the Government meets its target of net zero emissions by 2050?

Answer from Simon Clarke

The clean growth strategy sets out our proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy through the course of the 2020s. This year, the Government will be setting out further detail on plans to reduce emissions in key sectors such as transport, energy and buildings, as well as publishing our net zero review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provides general direction without specific fiscal commitments or timelines.

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Q2 John Howell Con
Climate
Context

Ahead of the UN climate conference, there is a need for clear commitment from the UK government on achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Question

The next UN climate conference is the perfect opportunity to set out exactly what we are doing to get our emissions down to net zero by 2050. Can the Minister assure me that the Government are committed to doing all they can to achieve that and to delivering the green jobs that come with it?

Answer from Simon Clarke

I am a passionate believer in the net zero agenda, and I believe that it is perfectly congruent with economic growth. COP26 presents a huge opportunity for the UK and globally. We are already a leader in tackling climate change, having reduced the emissions intensity of our economy faster than any other G20 country. We will be doing more at Budget.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer includes general statements about commitment to net zero without specific details on actions or commitments.

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Q3 George Howarth Lab
Economy Climate
Context

There is an ongoing process to phase out diesel, petrol, and hybrid vehicles earlier than initially planned due to the need for net zero emissions.

Question

The Minister will be aware that, as part of the drive towards zero emissions, there was a recent announcement about bringing forward the phasing out of diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles to 2035. What assessment has he made of the economic and fiscal impact of doing so, and in particular the loss of jobs that will happen, because the industry is in imminent danger of collapse?

Answer from Simon Clarke

We are consulting on the option of accelerating the phasing out of petrol and diesel cars, because the average lifespan of a vehicle is around 14 years, and if we are to hit our net zero targets by 2050, we need to be sensitive to that. I can reassure the right hon. Gentleman that we are listening carefully to the industry on this issue. Just last week, I met the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for a productive conversation on how we can do this in a way that supports the sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledges consulting on phasing out options but does not provide specific economic or fiscal impact assessments.

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