Reeves queries £1 trillion net-zero cost estimates

BEIS select committee chair Rachel Reeves has called on the chancellor to explain reports the government has put the cost of meeting net-zero emissions by 2050 at £1 trillion.

In a letter to Phillip Hammond, Ms Reeves has called on the Treasury to confirm recent reports it has estimated the cost at such a figure and how it was calculated.

The select committee chair also asks whether the Treasury has considered what possible public expenditure savings could arise from reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the letter, such savings could raise from reduced NHS expenditure brought about by people enjoying healthier and more active lifestyles.

It also asks the chancellor if he agrees with the Committee on Climate Change (CCC)’s analysis, that the air quality and health benefits of moving to net-zero would “partially or possibly even fully offset the resource costs” of delivering the target.

Earlier this week, MPs approved a motion to introduce the new target through an amendment to the 2008 Climate Change Act.

The legislation, which was introduced under the last Labour government, set a target that the UK should reduce its carbon emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050.

The BEIS committee chair has also written to the interim energy minister, Chris Skidmore, ahead of his appearance in front of the committee on 10 July, with a series of questions about how the government intends to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

In her letter to Skidmore, Reeves asks if the government plans include international aviation and shipping and whether ministers intend to legislate for emission reductions in these sectors.

The letter also asks about how the government plans to work with other countries to develop markets for international carbon units and about the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s role in the proposed five year review of the net-zero target.