Call for Evidence

1. What are the key requirements for a governance structure that can deliver cross-Government climate action at the pace, scale and over the duration required to meet the carbon budgets and the 2050 net zero target?

a) Are the Government’s existing net zero governance structures effective in this role, both in terms of coordination across Whitehall, and coordination with the devolved administrations and local and regional authorities?

b) What alternative governance structures could be established to coordinate and deliver cross-Government action on climate change more effectively?

c) What metrics should the Government use to measure their progress towards net zero?’.

2. What governance structures would enable HM Treasury to give greater priority to the net zero target and the carbon budgets in its financial and economic decisions?

a) How could HMT better ensure that spending decisions contribute to achieving net zero in the long term?

3. What signals and support does business need from the Government in order to deliver cross-economy decarbonisation in line with the carbon budgets and the net zero target? What delivery function should Government provide itself and are relevant regulatory bodies mandated and resourced effectively to deliver on Government priorities?

a) How do policy and regulatory signals and support vary between Government Departments (and how have they varied over time)? How is this affecting business activity on climate change?

b) Should Ofgem play a greater role in delivering on net zero and, if so, what changes are required to deliver this?

4. The BEIS Committee will be working with the Environmental Audit Committee on this inquiry and inviting guests from other select committees. We are also interested in comments on the effectiveness of current parliamentary scrutiny arrangements for climate change and proposals to improve this.