Climate Change Committee ('CCC') Publishes Progress Report to Parliament 2021

On June 24th, the Climate Change Committee ('CCC'), the Government's own climate advisers, published their Progress Report to Parliament 2021.

This year’s dual report, “Progress in reducing emissions” and “Progress in adapting to climate change,” provides a comprehensive overview of the UK Government’s progress to date on reducing emissions, offering more than 200 policy recommendations.

The Committee gives credit to the government for its historic climate promises but states they have been too slow to deliver on these pledges. 

It urges the Government to sustain the record decrease in UK emission brought about by the lockdown by implementing a strong Net Zero and Adaptation Strategy, including:

• implementing a Net Zero Test to ensure that all Government policy, including planning decisions, is compatible with UK climate targets.
   
• producing an ambitious Heat and Buildings Strategy that works for consumers urgently
   
• delivering on delayed plans for surface transport, aviation, hydrogen, biomass and food
   
• restoring 100% of upland peat by 2045, including through a ban on rotational burning.
   
• building a strong emergency resilience capability for the UK against climate shocks, learning from the COVID-19 response.

You can view the reports here.