Latest news with #EmmaPinchbeck
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Electric cars and heat pumps making progress, UK climate advisers say
More people are buying electric cars and installing heat pumps than ever before, but those numbers need to increase even further, according to the government's climate advisers. The independent Climate Change Committee said that the government needed to make sure that households benefit from the switch to cleaner technologies through lower bills. "The government has made progress on a number of fronts, including on clean power, [but] they need to do more on making electricity cheap," Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the CCC, told BBC News. In response Energy Secretary Ed Miliband thanked the committee for its advice and said it was committed to bringing down bills. What does net zero mean? Half of homes need heat pump by 2040, government told UK homes install subsidised heat pumps at record level By law, the UK must stop adding to the total amount of planet-warming greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 2050. This is known as "net zero". Reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions globally is widely seen as essential to limit further warming. Previous political consensus around the UK's target has broken down, however, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branding it "impossible" and Reform using the phrase "net stupid zero". But the committee argues it is achievable and could lead to long-term economic benefits. "[The UK] can absolutely meet net zero by 2050," said Ms Pinchbeck. Greenhouse gas emissions within the UK's borders have already fallen by more than half since 1990. But that's mostly because polluting fossil fuels – particularly coal – have been increasingly replaced with renewable energy like wind and solar for electricity generation. The UK's biggest emitters last year were transport and buildings, which will also need to get cleaner to help reach net zero. The CCC sees signs of progress, including a near doubling of the number of electric cars on UK roads in the past two years. Nearly one-in-five new cars sold in 2024 was electric. This has helped to reduce emissions from transport – not counting planes and ships – for the second year in a row, even though traffic levels rose last year. While new electric cars remain more expensive to buy than their petrol equivalents, the CCC expects them to cost the same in a couple of years. Many second-hand models are already as cheap, and electric cars can be more economical to run too. "We see these transitions happen surprisingly fast once they get going, usually starting slowly and accelerating rapidly, where falling prices and rising demand reinforce each other," said Dr Emily Nurse, the CCC's head of net zero. "When that's combined with effective policy, it really can lead to this rapid change." Sales of electric heat pumps are growing quickly too, up by more than half last year, thanks partly to grants introduced under the Conservatives, the CCC said. But they still remain well below target. The committee also praised the new government's relaxation of planning rules, which it says should encourage more people to install heat pumps. But even after grants, they can be expensive to install and while they are much more efficient than a gas boiler, they are not necessarily cheaper to run. That's because the cost of electricity is so high, something the CCC has repeatedly said needs tackling. The single largest reason for the rise in household electricity prices in recent years is the increase in wholesale costs, driven by international gas prices, the CCC says. "The only way to get bills down for good is by becoming a clean energy superpower and we continue to work tirelessly to deliver clean power for families and businesses," argued Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. But the committee adds that electricity bills are artificially high because charges are added to them to support largely older renewable energy projects – which were more expensive – as well as energy efficiency upgrades. On Monday the government announced plans to remove these costs for some businesses. Removing them from household electricity bills too would be a quick fix to the UK's high prices, making it much cheaper to run an electric car or heat pump, the committee says. But these costs would have to go somewhere, potentially onto general taxation. It would take "about £200 off the average [household] bill but at a cost of about £6bn per year to the Exchequer," said Adam Bell, director of policy at Stonehaven Consultancy and former head of energy strategy at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Additional reporting by Jonah Fisher and Miho Tanaka A simple guide to climate change Four ways climate change worsens extreme weather What you can do to reduce carbon emissions Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Heat pumps and EVs making progress, UK climate advisers say
More people are buying electric cars and installing heat pumps than ever before, but those numbers need to increase even further, according to the government's climate independent Climate Change Committee said that the government needed to make sure that households benefit from the switch to cleaner technologies through lower bills."The government has made progress on a number of fronts, including on clean power, [but] they need to do more on making electricity cheap," Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the CCC, told BBC response Energy Secretary Ed Miliband thanked the committee for its advice and said it was committed to bringing down bills. By law, the UK must stop adding to the total amount of planet-warming greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 2050. This is known as "net zero".Reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions globally is widely seen as essential to limit further warming. Previous political consensus around the UK's target has broken down, however, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branding it "impossible" and Reform using the phrase "net stupid zero". But the committee argues it is achievable and could lead to long-term economic benefits. "[The UK] can absolutely meet net zero by 2050," said Ms gas emissions within the UK's borders have already fallen by more than half since that's mostly because polluting fossil fuels – particularly coal – have been increasingly replaced with renewable energy like wind and solar for electricity generation. The UK's biggest emitters last year were transport and buildings, which will also need to get cleaner to help reach net CCC sees signs of progress, including a near doubling of the number of electric cars on UK roads in the past two years. Nearly one-in-five new cars sold in 2024 was has helped to reduce emissions from transport – not counting planes and ships – for the second year in a row, even though traffic levels rose last new electric cars remain more expensive to buy than their petrol equivalents, the CCC expects them to cost the same in a couple of second-hand models are already as cheap, and electric cars can be more economical to run too."We see these transitions happen surprisingly fast once they get going, usually starting slowly and accelerating rapidly, where falling prices and rising demand reinforce each other," said Dr Emily Nurse, the CCC's head of net zero."When that's combined with effective policy, it really can lead to this rapid change." Heat pump progress but a long way to go Sales of electric heat pumps are growing quickly too, up by more than half last year, thanks partly to grants introduced under the Conservatives, the CCC said. But they still remain well below committee also praised the new government's relaxation of planning rules, which it says should encourage more people to install heat even after grants, they can be expensive to install and while they are much more efficient than a gas boiler, they are not necessarily cheaper to because the cost of electricity is so high, something the CCC has repeatedly said needs tackling. Make electricity cheaper The single largest reason for the rise in household electricity prices in recent years is the increase in wholesale costs, driven by international gas prices, the CCC says."The only way to get bills down for good is by becoming a clean energy superpower and we continue to work tirelessly to deliver clean power for families and businesses," argued Energy Secretary Ed the committee adds that electricity bills are artificially high because charges are added to them to support largely older renewable energy projects – which were more expensive – as well as energy efficiency Monday the government announced plans to remove these costs for some them from household electricity bills too would be a quick fix to the UK's high prices, making it much cheaper to run an electric car or heat pump, the committee these costs would have to go somewhere, potentially onto general would take "about £200 off the average [household] bill but at a cost of about £6bn per year to the Exchequer," said Adam Bell, director of policy at Stonehaven Consultancy and former head of energy strategy at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Additional reporting by Jonah Fisher and Miho Tanaka Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
Business Mayor
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Mayor
UK preparations for flooding and extreme weather ‘inadequate'
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Climate change myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. The UK government's preparations for the flooding and higher temperatures triggered by climate change are 'inadequate' and in some cases have got worse, its official adviser has warned. 'Progress is either too slow, has stalled, or is heading in the wrong direction,' the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said on Wednesday in a report responding to the threat climate change poses to the UK's food systems, infrastructure, health, homes and economy. Warmer, wetter winters have combined with rising sea levels and drier, hotter summers to raise the risk of both flooding and droughts in the UK, creating a need for much clearer goals on improving the country's climate resilience, it said. The committee's first report on adaptation under chief executive Emma Pinchbeck, a former UK energy lobbyist, scrutinised delivery of an adaptation plan published by the previous government in 2023. The Labour government has not significantly shifted the dial on already poor adaptation planning, the CCC's report said, despite its manifesto commitment to 'improve resilience and preparation across central government, local authorities, local communities and emergency services'. Cross-bencher Baroness Brown, chair of the CCC's adaptation committee, said the UK should prepare for a disaster similar to the floods that hit Valencia, Spain, last year, when a year's worth of rain fell in just three hours and 20 minutes, killing more than 200 people. 'We need government to recognise this is the disaster that could be happening tomorrow.' More than 6.3mn properties, half of the UK's top quality agricultural land and over a third of railways and roads are already at risk of flooding, the report said. The government should set long-term targets to cut flooding risk in the UK, and ask the National Energy System Operator to consider how flooding and heat and water scarcity could affect the UK's power and grid operations, it said. The upcoming government spending review should ringfence adaptation spending, Brown added. 'The government is under a lot of pressure to make cuts, but this isn't the one to cut.' Recommended The report also highlighted the threats posed by extreme heat to the UK's public health and critical infrastructure, as it can cause rail lines to buckle and power lines to sag. It highlighted research suggesting there could be 10,000 heat related deaths a year by the middle of the century, and a 7 per cent hit to GDP. No single area of adaptation spanning the economy, health, built environment, infrastructure and land management was good enough, the report said. Water supply management has worsened since the CCC's previous progress report in 2023, with a slow rate of leakage reduction, as had elements of marine habitat monitoring. Some policies on flood resilience had worsened. Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, said the government was doing an 'OK job' on cutting CO₂ emissions. 'However, they simply can't afford to maintain the status quo on adaptation, which is leaving the UK dangerously exposed.' Read More BofA Forecasts Stronger 2025 for Nordic Economies A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was investing 'a record £2.65bn to repair and build flood defences, protecting tens of thousands of homes and businesses and helping local communities become more resilient to the effects of climate change'. 'We will now carefully consider the findings of the Climate Change Committee's report, and we will respond in due course.' Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Explore the FT's coverage here. Are you curious about the FT's environmental sustainability commitments? Find out more about our science-based targets here
Telegraph
20-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
SNP at risk of missing key net zero emissions target, warns watchdog
The SNP Government is at risk of missing a target to reach net zero by 2045, an environmental watchdog has said. Ministers were not delivering on the 'short-term stuff' needed to ensure that the country is carbon neutral within 20 years, according to Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the Climate Change Committee (CCC). The intervention comes a year after the Scottish Government scrapped its legally binding annual and interim targets for cutting carbon emissions after admitting they would not be met. The overall goal of net zero by 2045 remains in place, but experts have warned urgent progress is needed now if that is to be achieved. Speaking to the Holyrood magazine a month before the CCC publishes its latest advice to the Scottish Government, Ms Pinchbeck said climate progress across the UK was stalling. Asked whether getting 95 per cent of the way towards net zero by 2045 could be considered a success, she said: 'This is a politician's answer, but I wouldn't deal in a hypothetical like that. Our job is to advise them on the target... if you're making really good progress on decarbonisation, that's great. 'I don't want to speculate on where [Scotland] may or may not get to. The much more important thing for the Scottish Government to focus on right now is progress right in front of their faces in the next five to 10 years. 'Long-term goals are important... but Scotland, as with Westminster, has not made progress on the short-term stuff to deliver on any targets. 'I don't like entertaining hypothetical conversations about 2050 because we've got lots of short-term action to do, and that's where the focus should be.' Ms Pinchbeck also emphasised the need for a net zero strategy that ensures workers are not left behind. Speaking about the closure of Grangemouth, where about 400 jobs are set to be lost this year, she said: 'Deindustrialisation is not a successful decarbonisation strategy. 'Sensible governments move early to do something for those workers and those industries. Industrial strategy isn't technically in the CCC's mandate, but we've said that alongside a decarbonisation strategy you need a strategy for those industries and those communities that will need additional support. Net zero tsar 'The public thinks the transition needs to be fair but they recognise there are communities that will not benefit from this transition. If you're in Aberdeen, for example, the transition away from oil and gas feels very different than it will UK-wide.' WWF Scotland, the environmental charity, said Ms Pinchbeck's remarks were 'further evidence' that climate action in Scotland was 'slowly but surely slipping down the list of priorities of the Scottish Government'. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'We remain fully committed to delivering net zero by 2045, with our upcoming carbon budgets and the next climate change plan setting out our approach to delivering on Scotland's net zero targets in a way which is credible, just and fair for everyone.'
Telegraph
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The Government sees that net zero is unviable – yet still it pushes ahead
SIR – In your interview (March 29) with Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the Climate Change Committee and the Government's net zero adviser, she says: 'It never works to force people to change their lives.' Yet the Government is attempting to do just that. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, wants Britain to lead the world in net zero. This is a laudable aim, but the cost is too high – and clearly unaffordable at the present time. Labour has already proved that it doesn't understand how the countryside works, and it appears to be displaying similar ignorance about the fishing industry, with plans to pressure boat owners into switching to electric motors and batteries (report, March 29). Would Mr Miliband wish to set out into a howling gale in such a vessel? Charles Penfold Ulverston, Cumbria SIR – The war in Ukraine has highlighted how vulnerable undersea energy pipelines and cables are. If Britain ever became involved in a major conflict, we could expect to see our own undersea cables damaged, and our wind turbines shut down by drone strikes. And yet, in an increasingly hostile world, the Government continues to push for an all-electric net-zero fantasy. As a nation, we should be pursuing energy independence – using our reserves of oil and gas, fracking like mad and getting those small modular reactors up and running. The first duty of any government is to ensure the security of its people, and this would help to achieve that. R T Britnell Canterbury, Kent SIR – I couldn't agree more with Matt Ridley (Comment, March 21) about the drive for net zero. I do not wish to get rid of my (low-emission) petrol car; this would be a waste of a perfectly good vehicle. I would like to keep my gas cooker and boiler until they stop working. Moreover, what is the point of us pursuing net zero when so many others are still using fossil fuels? We need to think about what is happening elsewhere in the world. Often we are just exporting our emissions anyway, buying from countries that do not favour green energy. Joan Freeland Bristol SIR – Our Government appears to be willing to purchase solar panels from China – where they may have been manufactured using slave labour (report, March 23) – in its relentless pursuit of net zero. No doubt these panels are cheap and available on shorter delivery, but what's the rush? When I bought panels for my home a year ago, I specified that I did not want a Chinese product. I'm pleased to say that mine were acquired at a competitive price and had the longest warranty of any on the market. Ryan Bond Banchory, Kincardineshire
