Committees

Net zero and UN climate summits

Inquiry

The BEIS Committee has launched a standing inquiry on the UK’s ‘Net Zero’ target and the UN Climate Summits. The Committee expects this inquiry to run for the duration of this Parliament. It will consider issues including:

  • Progress in delivering the UK’s 2050 net zero target; 
  • Progress in cutting emissions to meet the UK’s five-yearly Carbon Budgets; 
  • The role of BEIS in leading climate change mitigation policy across Government; 
  • The potential role of business and industry in the net zero agenda; 
  • Preparations for the 2021 Climate Summit in Glasgow, and the UK’s performance as Summit host; 
  • The ongoing role of the UK in international climate talks and initiatives to tackle climate change. 

Background

On 27 June 2019 the UK’s ‘Net Zero’ target came into force, setting a new goal to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050. The Net Zero target replaces the UK’s previous goal to reduce UK emissions by 80% by 2050, established by the Climate Change Act 2008.

The net zero target aligns UK legislation with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, as agreed by the world’s nations at the 2015 UN Climate Summit (COP21). The Paris Agreement sets an aim to limit global temperature rise to "well below 2°C" above pre-industrial levels and to "pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C".

In September 2019 the UK was awarded the Presidency of the next UN Climate Summit (COP26), in partnership with Italy. The Summit will now take place in Glasgow in November 2021.

Calls for evidence

The Committee is working with the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST) on a survey of priorities for COP26, the results of which will feed into this inquiry.  As part of this exercise POST is also creating a database of COP26 experts.  This is an invitation to anyone with expertise in areas relating to COP26 to provide feedback. For more information and to take the survey please visit https://post.parliament.uk/horizon-scanning/cop26-expert-database/.

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Wednesday 23 June 2021
10:45am Private
11:00am Public
Net zero and UN climate summits - Oral evidence 23 June 2021
11:00am
  • Nigel Topping (High Level Champion for Climate Action at COP26)
  • Andrew Griffith MP (UK Net Zero Business Champion at COP26)
  • Matt Toombs (Director of Partnerships and Engagement at COP26 Unit, Cabinet Office)
Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 27 April 2021
9:45am Private
10:30am Public
Net zero and UN climate summits - Oral evidence 27 April 2021
10:30am
  • Miranda Barker (Chair, Climate Challenge Group at British Chamber of Commerce)
  • Emily Hickson (Coalition Member at We Mean Business)
  • Stephanie Maier (Member of the Global Steering Committee at ClimateAction100+)
  • Sam Peacock (Director of Corporate Affairs and Strategy at SSE)
11:30am
  • Jamie Clarke (Executive Director at Climate Outreach)
  • Michelle McGinty (Head of COP26 Team at Glasgow City Council)
  • Jamie Peters (Interim Director of Campaigning Impact at Friends of the Earth)
  • Anna Brown (Campaign Coordinator at Teach the Future)
  • Josh Tregale (Campaign Coordinator at Teach the Future)
Virtual meeting
Monday 15 March 2021
2:00pm Private
Private meeting 15 March 2021
Virtual Meeting
Tuesday 19 January 2021
9:45am Private
10:30am Public
Net zero and UN climate summits - Oral evidence 19 January 2021
10:30am
  • Rt Hon Alok Sharma (COP 26 President at Cabinet Office)
  • Peter Hill (COP 26 Chief Executive Officer at Cabinet Office)
  • Ros Eales (COP26 Chief Operating Officer at Cabinet Office)
  • Archie Young (COP26 UK Lead Climate Negotiator at Cabinet Office)
11:30am
  • Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng (Secretary of State at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
  • Joanna Whittington (Director General, Energy and Security at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
  • Jo Shanmugalingam (Director General, Industrial Strategy, Science & Innovation at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
  • Ashley Ibbett (Director General, Trade, Europe and Analysis at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Virtual meeting

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