Relying on the COP26 meeting in Glasgow this year is not enough to get the UK to its net zero goal, says the Climate Change Committee (CCC). The CCC’s 2021 Progress Report to Parliament is not pulling its punches when it says that government must now show real leadership to get us to that 2050 goal.
As the CCC says, COVID-19 casts a long shadow but it has shown that government can act at speed when needed; that people will support change when the have the information in front of them – and that we need effective planning.
The Report to Parliament, published on 24th June, includes list of recommendations for every branch of government from No 10 to the Treasury and the Foreign Office.
Rocket Content has combed through the documents and highlighted below some recommendations that could have implications for the construction and building services sector. That said, it’s worth taking some time to read this report for yourself: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2021-progress-report-to-parliament/
CCC recommended actions for Number 10
* Set a ‘Net Zero Test’ for all government decisions to align with the target
* Develop a public engagement strategy to get people on-board and offer trusted information so they can make better choices.
* Public sector encouraged lead the way in reducing travel demand by encouraging home-working.
For the Treasury
* Close the funding gap for heat networks with multi-year funding to deliver growth in network deployment.
* Work with BEIS on the Heat and Building Strategy to ensure that relative prices favour the shift to low-carbon technologies
* Consult on reforms to electricity pricing to remove disincentives to electrification
* Consult with BEIS on the introduction of a Carbon Tax
* Build on the UK’s Green Finance Strategy to embed Net Zero into financial decisions by UK firms.
For BEIS
* Set out a comprehensive plan for achieving Net Zero by 2030, including carbon budgets for various sectors.
* Support businesses to play their full role in Net Zero, including the introduction of mandatory climate disclosures
* Develop a robust heat strategy to eliminate emissions from buildings through a clear direction for the next 30 years.
Standards for all types of building stock
Make low-carbon solutions more financially attractive
Introduce Green Building Passports
Formalise governance framework to drive decisions on heat networks
* Provide a stable, long-term policy framework to support sustained energy efficiency and heat pump growth at scale (i.e. meet the 600,000 installation target set in the Ten Point Plan).
* Replace the Green Homes Grant scheme backed by standards a
nd support for non-residential heat pump installations
* Improve EPCs and the SAP framework
EPCs should drive building improvements
Integrate a forward trajectory of declining grid carbon-intensity in line with government projections
Plan for the future of Green Building Passports
* Develop plans to drive more resource-efficient construction and use of low-carbon materials including greater use of wood in construction.
* Develop a hydrogen strategy out to 2035 and set out pathways for hydrogen use in power, industry, transport and buildings.
The CCC calls on government to: “Act quickly – be bold and decisive. Your
moment has arrived.” There could be no better message for the building services and construction sectors.
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