Today (24/06/2021) The Climate Change Committee has published its 2021 Progress Report to Parliament which urges the Government to deliver the policies and implement the measures required to reach its ambitious targets for CO2 reductions. The report challenges government on a number of areas:

• A Net Zero Test would ensure that all Government policy, including planning decisions, is compatible with UK climate targets.
• An ambitious Heat and Buildings Strategy, that works for consumers, is urgently needed.
• Delayed plans on surface transport, aviation, hydrogen, biomass and food must be delivered.
• Plans for the power sector, industrial decarbonisation, the North Sea, peat and energy from waste must be strengthened.
• The big cross-cutting challenges of public engagement, fair funding and local delivery must be tackled.

One of the key messages coming out of the report is that the Government must deliver the delayed plans on decarbonising surface transport, aviation, hydrogen, biomass and food. It has been rumoured that the Transport Decarbonisation Plan would be published by Summer Recess on 22 July. Last week, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Rachel Maclean, said in Westminster Hall Debate that she was not satisfied with the final draft but that they are working through it at pace and intend to publish soon. 

CIHT's are currently working on a Route To Net Zero for the transport sector which will be published in advance of COP26 in November. This will set out how we will work with our partners to support transportation professionals meet the challenge of eliminating emissions. Read more about CIHT's Route to Net Zero work here.