Government publishes response to CCC annual report

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP made a statement to Parliament on the Annual Progress Reports. As part of her speech, she said:2019 has been a pivotal year in the fight against climate change. As the scientific evidence of the dangers of global warming continues to mount, and as people of all ages call for urgent action, the message to governments around the world is clear: act, and act now, to protect the future of our planet.The UK has long been a leader in clean growth – cutting emissions while growing the economy. We were the first to set a long-term emission reduction target in law, under the Climate Change Act (2008), and since 1990 we have reduced emissions by over 40% while growing the economy by more than two thirds. On 27 June, the government adopted legislation to set a new net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, to be delivered by 2050. This made the UK the first major economy to set a net zero target in law, ending the UK’s contribution to global warming in three decades.That target is an immense challenge for the whole of society – but not only is net zero achievable, it can and will be the growth story of the 21st century. We have a thriving low carbon economy, with turnover in the low carbon sector growing more quickly than GDP in 2017, supporting almost 400,000 jobs across the country.But our success to date is not a reason to delay action - it provides the argument for going further and faster. By taking action to cut emissions we can protect our planet while putting UK businesses at the forefront of the zero carbon revolution, especially as we prepare to embrace the Presidency of COP26 next year.Her full speech can be found by clicking here. The Committee on Climate Change's annual report on progress assessed the government's climate change mitigation activity and can be accessed by clicking here. The biennial report provided a first assessment of progress in implementing the government’s second National Adaptation Programme (NAP), published in July 2018. The NAP covers England and Reserved matters.Reports published: Leading on Clean Growth: The Government response to the CCC 2019 Progress Report to Parliament - Reducing UK emissions Government response to the Committee on Climate Change: 2019 Report to Parliament - Progress in preparing for climate changeThe government response to the ‘Reducing UK emissions’ report – Leading on Clean Growth – sets out: the progress made towards meeting UK carbon budgets government plans for further policy action to deliver on the commitments in the Clean Growth Strategy government response to the recommendations in the CCC’s report on reducing emissionsThe government response to the report on ‘Progress in preparing for climate change’ addresses the CCC’s 12 recommendations on preparing for the impacts of climate change. It covers: overall adaptation progress, including activity in the natural environment, infrastructure, people and the built environment business sectors under the second National Adaptation Programme (2018 to 2023)The NAP follows from the UK’s second Climate Change Risk Assessment.Read both reports and find out more by clicking here.