Lack of ‘green’ tech means the UK will miss its carbon target, warn MPs

Britain will not meet its legally-binding targets to cut greenhouse gases to "net zero" by 2050 without "urgent action", MPs have warned, as progress is hampered by cutbacks and delays. 

The Science and Technology Committee published a report into the UK's clean growth strategy, identifying ten areas where the Government had failed to make low-carbon technologies the most

attractive option.

For example, it said, fuel duty had been for the past nine years and instead allowed fares to rise for buses and trains. It has also been tougher for onshore wind warns to get planning

permission since 2015.

Norman Lamb, who chairs the science and technology committee, said these shortfalls were "incompatible with the UK's two upcoming, legally binding, carbon budgets", branding them

"unacceptable".

"The rate of deployment of several key low-carbon technologies is significantly lower than what is required to meet the Government's ambitions, and various stakeholders expressed concern at

the current and projected rate of progress of the UK's decarbonisation," he said.

Earlier this year, the Government introduced new targets, to slash greenhouse gases to zero by 2050 – seen as a major sign that action would be ramped up to cut emissions.

However, MPs on Thursday said, as it stood, the UK was not even on track to meet its existing targets for 2023 to 2032, for emissions to fall to 57pc below 1990 levels.

The MPs said there were a number of things the Government could do – "realistic, achievable recommendations" – which could help put it back on track, including bringing forward the proposed

ban on sales of new "conventional" cars and vans to 2035 "at the latest". 

It should also consider adjusting stamp duty to vary according to how energy efficient a house is, making it pricier to buy homes which waste more energy, the MPs said.

The report comes amid growing concern over climate change in the UK, with a survey out earlier this week from Ipsos MORI suggesting more than half of Brits would want emissions to be brought

to net zero more quickly.

According to the study, for the Evening Standard, around 85pc of adults are concerned about global warming.