The UK’s transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy is in danger of being derailed by a lack of government action on climate change and urgent action is needed, according to the Committee on Climate Change’s statutory 2017 Report to Parliament.

The report sets out the CCC’s latest independent assessment of UK action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare for the impacts of climate change. The CCC found that progress is stalling, with emissions reductions since 2012 been largely confined to the power sector, whilst emissions from transport and the UK’s building stock are rising. The report also found that the country’s resilience to the effects of climate change.

The CCC made the following recommendations to parliament:

• Government should urgently deliver a plan to continue reducing emissions across the economy. It is no longer justified or wise to delay the publication of the emissions reduction plan required by law. The plan must address the gap between Parliament’s agreed targets and the impact of existing policies, including: plans to bring forward additional low-carbon electricity generation through the 2020s; accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles; provide a path for the uptake of low-carbon heat and set out a strategy for deploying carbon capture and storage technology.
• The UK’s National Adaptation Programme (NAP) must be strengthened in the first half of 2018. The new programme, which drives action to prepare for climate change impacts, must address priority areas: flood risks to homes and businesses, risks to the natural environment, including to soils and biodiversity, and risks to human health and wellbeing from higher temperatures. The next NAP must be more ambitious, with policies that make a measurable difference and with clearer mechanisms to track progress.

The CCC’s chairman, Lord Deben, said: “The impact of climate change on our lives and those of our children is clearer than ever. The UK has shown global leadership on climate change, but progress will stall at home without urgent further action. New plans, for a new parliament, are needed as a matter of urgency to meet our legal commitments, grasp the opportunities offered by the global low-carbon transition, and protect people, businesses and the environment from the impacts of a changing climate.” 

Nick Molho, chief executive of the Aldersgate Group, said:  “The limited progress being made to tackle the degradation of the UK’s natural environment and better protect its infrastructure from the impacts of climate change is concerning. In the coming year, we need to see a concerted effort across government departments to develop a detailed National Adaptation Plan and 25 Year Environment Plan. These plans must attract much greater investment to improve the state of key natural resources such as coastal wetlands, peatlands and soil and ensure the UK’s infrastructure and economy are resilient in the face of more extreme weather events.”

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