8EU climate change strategy
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Committee’s assessment |
Politically important |
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Cleared from scrutiny (decision reported on 09/01/2019); drawn to the attention of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee |
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Document details |
Commission Communication—A Clean Planet for all. A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy |
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Legal base |
— |
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Department |
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
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Document Number |
(40225), 15011/18, COM(18) 773 |
Summary and Committee’s conclusions
8.1Late last year, the Commission set out a suggested EU strategic approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, including pathways to reaching “net zero”52 emissions by 2050. We observed at our meeting of 9 January53 that the Commission’s document had considerable implications for post-Brexit UK climate policy.
8.2The Minister of State (Rt Hon Claire Perry MP) has responded54 to our Report of 9 January. She draws attention to the UK’s own framework for reducing emissions, which—she says—will be unaffected by Brexit. This includes the Climate Change Act 2008, which set a long-term target to reduce emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. In addition, it established carbon budgets, which cap emissions from the UK over successive five-year periods.
8.3Regarding the Commission’s Communication, the Minister notes that the contents of the Communication, including the proposed EU 2050 net zero emissions target, are subject to debate within the EU, and that the proposals within it may change as a result. In addition, the document deals with EU-level policy and does not prescribe measures or targets for individual Member States.
8.4Turning to the arrangements for Brexit, the Minister observes that the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future UK-EU relationship sets a clear vision for continuing cooperation on global challenges like climate change. However, the details of the future UK-EU relationship on climate change, such as commitments on a level playing field for open and fair competition, are still to be negotiated. The Declaration states that such provisions should build upon the arrangements in the Withdrawal Agreement but also states the UK and the EU should have regard to the scope and depth of the future relationship when considering the precise nature of commitments in relevant areas.
8.5Crucially, the Minister emphasises the importance of noting that the level playing field arrangements in the Withdrawal Agreement’s Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (the “Backstop”) only come into effect in the event that the UK and the EU have not concluded a future relationship agreement by the end of the Implementation Period.
8.6The Minister goes on to observe that, on 21 January, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s support for the proposed amendment to the Meaningful Vote put forward by John Mann MP, stating that the UK would maintain standards in relation to workers’ rights and environmental protections post-EU exit. The Government will now work closely with MPs, business and Trade Unions to develop proposals that give effect to the amendment, including looking at legislation where necessary.
8.7Concerning the letter55 from 11 Member States on net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by 2050, the Minister explains that the UK did not co-sign the letter because the Government awaits the advice of the Commission on Climate Change on the implications of the Paris Agreement on the UK’s long-term goals, including setting a date for reaching net zero emissions.
8.8While the UK is not currently able to endorse a specific timeframe for reaching net zero emissions, the Minister recognises and welcomes the Commission’s strategy as a serious response to the urgency of the challenge faced in tackling climate change. She describes it as “a positive vision for real-world action to deliver the Paris Agreement that highlights the economic and social benefits of climate action” as well as providing an importance evidence base. The Government looks forward to engaging on it in the coming weeks and months.
8.9On future UK engagement, the Minister notes that the UK will participate in the discussions on the long-term strategy on climate at the Environment Council in March. Following Brexit, continuing to work with the EU and Member States on climate policy will remain vital to the UK’s international climate objectives, and so the UK will continue to work with European partners and the wider international community to drive ambitious climate action in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is the intention of the UK and the EU to cooperate in international fora, such as the G7 and G20, in areas of mutual economic, environmental, and social interest, including climate change.
8.10We welcome the Minister’s response, which represents a strong commitment to robust climate change policy.
8.11On the arrangements for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the Minister states that the level playing field arrangements in the Withdrawal Agreement’s Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (“the Backstop”) only come into effect in the event that the UK and the EU have not concluded a future relationship agreement by the end of the Implementation Period. This must be qualified by recognising that the arrangements under the Backstop will only be superseded by a future relationship which delivers the same underlying objectives as the Backstop. It seems to us that ensuring a level playing field in environmental policy is one such objective. Such an objective could, of course, be met in a variety of ways and may potentially be to the UK’s advantage should it wish to pursue a more ambitious climate policy than the EU.
8.12Regarding future UK engagement on EU climate policy, the avenues of engagement identified by the Minister are limited to specific international fora. We consider it highly unlikely—and indeed undesirable—that such fora will represent the limits of such engagement. We anticipate that there will be substantial informal engagement between the UK and the EU institutions and this may also be an area for more formal discussion within the Joint Committee established under the Withdrawal Agreement.
8.13Finally, the Minister welcomes the Communication but, equally, notes that the policy suggestions within it are subject to debate within the EU, and that they may change as a result. As with all strategic EU documents, that is indeed the case. Nevertheless, EU policy is often formed at this strategic stage, which is why it is reassuring that the UK is engaging and intends to continue to do so.
8.14The document has already been cleared from scrutiny and we have no outstanding questions for the Minister. We draw this chapter to the attention of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee.
Full details of the documents
Commission Communication—A Clean Planet for all. A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy: (40225), 15011/18, COM(18) 773.
Previous Committee Reports
Fiftieth Report HC 301–xlix (2017–19), chapter 6 (9 January 2019).
52 ‘Net zero’ means that total emissions are equal to or less than the emissions removed from the environment. This can be achieved by a combination of emission reduction and removal by offsetting. Emissions can be removed or absorbed by natural processes such as tree planting or by using technologies like carbon capture.
54 Letter from The Rt Hon Claire Perry MP to Sir William Cash MP dated 24 January 2019.
55 Joint letter to Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete on the Climate ambition of the future EU long-term strategy, 14 November 2018.
Published: 12 February 2019