New report a “timely reminder” of need for green economic recovery plan

25 Jun 2020 01:16 PM

The latest annual report to Parliament by the Committee on Climate Change says accelerating steps to address climate change must be at the heart of any economic recovery plan, and proposes a range of green stimulus measures in tune with recommendations made by the National Infrastructure Commission.

The CCC’s latest report says government should use the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” of its pandemic recovery planning to speed up the fight against climate change, and calls for among other things:

• upgrades to homes to make them more energy efficient
• more schemes to make it easier for people to cycle and walk
• investment in clean heating technologies such as heat pumps.

Commenting on the CCC’s report, Commission Chair Sir John Armitt yesterday said:

“The Committee’s report is a timely reminder of the clock counting down to 2050 and the fact that we must do more and go faster to deliver a low carbon economy. The Committee’s proposals are in tune with the National Infrastructure Commission’s own assessment of the priorities for investment which will bolster parts of the economy in the shorter term while helping set up the end goal of cutting emissions drastically and for good.

“What’s more, delivering on this agenda could help address regional inequalities in the UK. It’s a potential win-win-win which ministers can secure for the country by taking the right decisions over the coming weeks.”

The Commission’s National Infrastructure Assessment – the UK’s first – sets out a wide range of policy recommendations to government for creating a low carbon economy in the UK.