Lord Stern and Grantham Institute respond to Seventh Carbon Budget

Commenting on the Seventh Carbon Budget presented by the Government today, Professor Lord Stern of Brentford, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Global School of Sustainability at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: “This carbon budget is in line with the expert independent advice of the Climate Change Committee, and is an important indicator that the UK will continue on the path to ending the UK’s contribution to climate change by reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

“This is the first carbon budget to be presented to Parliament since the unacceptable and short-sighted abandonment by some parties of the commitment to net zero. The evidence is now clearer than ever that the investments required to make the transition away from fossil fuels are far smaller than the potential costs of climate change impacts. These investments in the clean technologies and businesses of the future will lower costs, drive growth and ensure that the UK remains competitive. Any slippage now on net zero by the UK, in light of its past leadership on climate change, would have serious and adverse knock-on effects on the commitments by other countries to decarbonise their economies.”

Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: “This carbon budget is a vital contribution to the UK’s efforts to stop the growing impacts of climate change by reaching net zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The scientific evidence is overwhelming that the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, more intense heatwaves, and heavier rainfall, will continue to grow in the UK until the world reaches net zero emissions.

“More than 99 per cent of the current emissions that will cause ongoing damage to the UK are generated by other countries, so we have a vital vested interest in persuading them to stop. We can only do this if we lead by example and demonstrate leadership on this issue, including through this carbon budget. We will likely hear from Reform UK and Conservative politicians over the coming days some unscientific, and frankly unserious, arguments against the carbon budget and net zero. They have effectively joined Donald Trump in ignoring the science and pretending that climate change does not pose a threat. It is important that MPs and peers of all political parties who are serious about evidence-based policy-making on climate change support this carbon budget in Parliament, and challenge the bogus arguments of those who oppose it.”