Infrastructure policy placing UK’s net-zero target at risk, thinktank warns

The UK's net-zero target is in jeopardy due to a lack of legislative requirements on key sectors and infrastructure, with thinktank the Green Alliance warning that there is currently an £11.4bn investment gap in reaching net-zero across transport, buildings, circular economy and natural infrastructure.


Infrastructure policy placing UK’s net-zero target at risk, thinktank warns

The Green Alliance argues that a net-zero aligned approach to infrastructure would help the nation deliver an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic

The Green Alliance is warning that significant shortfalls in governmental approach to infrastructure policy is placing the net-zero target at risk. The thinktank’s new report has warned that a lack of “net-zero testing” applied to all government decisions will continue to promote carbon-heavy economic activity. Such cases have already been disputed by green groups, including the £27bn roads expansion programme and the Heathrow Airport expansion.

The report estimates that an £11.4bn gap in investment required to meet net-zero currently exists. The gap is predicted to grow to reach £13.5bn annually by 2022.

The Green Alliance’s head of climate policy Caterina Brandmayr said: “Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and society. Decisions taken now will govern all of our choices for decades to come and determine how green our society can be. 

“This isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it will generate much needed new jobs in the short term and prove to be essential in building a more prosperous UK economy which is resilient to future crises over the long term.”

The Government was meant to publish the long-awaited 30-year National Infrastructure Strategy (NIS) alongside the Budget in March, but it was delayed to give chancellor Rishi Sunak more time with the strategy. It was mooted for publication this Autumn, with the delay set to allow for changes to ensure that funding is reflective of the UK’s net-zero target for 2050.

The Green Alliance argues that a net-zero aligned approach to infrastructure would help the nation deliver an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

While Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce a 10-point plan aligned to net-zero this week, the Green Alliance warns that the introduction date for some policy schemes is also putting the net-zero target at risk.

The £12bn investment into affordable homes between 2021 and 2026, for example, is at risk of breaching net-zero requirements, as the Future Homes Standard, is set to be introduced by 2025. The “majority of these homes will not meet it, leading to higher than necessary energy bills and incurring future costs to address poor energy performance”, the report argues.

Echoed calls

The report echoes findings from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which claimed that the UK Government needs to “undertake a significant programme of infrastructure investment” to enable regulators and private investment to create funding for critical net-zero infrastructure.

According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UK is set to suffer from a £372bn deficit in 2020-21, despite the Government’s financial relief policies, the equivalent of 18% of GDP. This economic downturn could hinder the required investment into national infrastructure to enable the UK to meet its net-zero target for 2050.

As a response, the CBI is calling for the Government to give regulators more control and targets to deliver the anticipated NIS, and have clear regulatory guidelines to support sectors with the net-zero transition. CBI recommends that the government “should create an infrastructure bank, which could form part of a larger investment institution to support the UK’s economic recovery”. This would need to be implemented soon, because the UK is approaching the end of the Brexit transition period and will likely lose access to the European Investment Bank.

CBI research, for example, shows that for every £1 spent on construction activity, £2.92 is created in wider value to the economy. However, the World Economic Forum estimates that globally a £12trn investment gap will exist regarding the infrastructure required in 2040.

Additionally, the National Infrastructure Commission has urged the UK Government to set “clear resilience standards” that enables energy and water networks, transport, essential services and all infrastructure sectors to stress test and plan against hidden climate challenges on the horizon.

Matt Mace

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