Lord Foster of Bath

Sizewell C was granted development consent following the Planning Inspectorate’s examination of Sizewell C’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application and all works are fully in line with DCO permissions.

Sizewell C report that the project has carried out advanced planting of 4,000 more trees than it has removed, and when the power station is complete, 42 hectares of woodland will have been created, amounting to between 50,000 and 100,000 trees and shrubs, plus additional hedgerows. Sizewell C has also created three nature reserves around the site – and three further nature reserves are being created locally to further mitigate for any land take.

We will publish estimates of the emissions savings from future and developing policies by October 2025. These will cover all sectors of the economy out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037.

According to the National Energy System Operator's independent analysis, plans to achieve Clean Power by 2030 will reduce emissions by over 31MtCO2 per year by 2030, compared to 2023 levels. It is not possible to disaggregate emissions savings by technology or policy as their impacts are interconnected. As such, figures tend to cover the power sector as a whole, in line with the reporting approach taken by the Climate Change Committee.

Source: https://www.neso.energy/document/346806/download

In December 2020, the UK’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC) presented a report to the Secretary of State entitled “The Sixth Carbon Budget: The UK’s Path to Net Zero.” This report, a statutory obligation under Section 34 of the Climate Change Act, included recommendations for the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget, set to run from 2033 to 2037. In the report, the CCC noted that “it is for the Government to decide whether the currently legislated budgets [the fourth and fifth, covering 2023-2027 and 2028-32] should be amended to bring them in line with the Net Zero 2050 target, however the Committee does not consider it necessary to change the budget level in law – the focus should be on developing policy to deliver the new Sixth Carbon Budget and the UK’s NDC for 2030.” We will deliver an updated plan that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all the sectors in due course.

The UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) has no statutory responsibilities in relation to the NDC. However, to benefit from its independent expertise, the Secretary of State wrote to the CCC to request guidance on the UK’s 2035 nationally determined contribution (NDC). The CCC's guidance was published in October 2024 and included the recommendation that the UK’s NDC commit to a reduction in territorial greenhouse emissions of 81% from 1990 to 2035. The CCC advised that this target would be consistent with the emissions reductions required to meet the UK’s legally binding Sixth Carbon Budget (2033-2037). This guidance did not include any advice on making the 2035 NDC binding in law.

The UK’s 2030 nationally determined contribution - to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% on 1990 levels – represents an increase in ambition on the UK’s fifth carbon budget, which covers the period 2028-2032. The UK will need to overachieve on the fifth carbon budget to meet the 2030 NDC and stay on track for the sixth carbon budget. In its advice to Government on the setting of the UK’s sixth carbon budget, the Climate Change Committee advised that it did not consider it necessary for Government to reset existing targets, and instead advised that once the 2030 NDC and sixth carbon budget were set on the path to net zero, that these would provide a clear target for UK emissions reductions.

The UK’s 2030 NDC target – to reduce economy wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% on 1990 levels – is a fair and ambitious contribution to global action on climate change, in line with the Paris Agreement temperature goal, and remains in place.

The Government will deliver an updated Carbon Budget Delivery that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all the sectors, in due course. This will outline the policies and proposals needed to deliver carbon budgets 4-6 on a pathway to net zero.

Looking ahead, we will set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with our statutory duties. This will set out the next phase of our pathway to net zero and policies to further decarbonise the UK economy.

The Government will deliver an updated Carbon Budget Delivery that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all the sectors, in due course. This will outline the policies and proposals needed to deliver carbon budgets 4-6 on a pathway to net zero.

Looking ahead, we will set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with our statutory duties. This will set out the next phase of our pathway to net zero and policies to further decarbonise the UK economy.

The figures below show the Government’s latest published projections for the UK’s territorial emissions in 2030 in million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), first excluding and then including emissions from International Aviation and Shipping (IAS). These estimates do not take account of future policies or those currently under development, which the Government expects will lead to lower emissions than those reported below.

2030

Terrestrial emissions excluding IAS 327

Terrestrial emissions including IAS 371

The Government publishes estimates of embedded emissions from imported goods in ‘UK and England's carbon footprint to 2021’. However, projections of these emissions are not available.

The UK’s 2030 nationally determined contribution - to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% on 1990s levels – is a fair and ambitious contribution to global action on climate change and is in line with the Paris agreement temperature goal. The 2030 NDC was aligned with the advice of the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) and built on the foundations of well-established UK analysis and policy development for domestic climate change mitigation. We do not consider it necessary to implement new legislation to bring the UK's 2030 NDC into domestic law because of its alignment with the existing, legally-binding carbon budgets framework.

The UK’s 2030 and 2035 nationally determined contributions are fair and ambitious contributions to global action on climate change, in line with the Paris Agreement temperature goal. NDCs are international communications of ambition required to be communicated under the Paris Agreement, a treaty under international law. Alongside our international commitments, the UK was the first country to introduce a legally binding, long-term emissions reduction target under the Climate Change Act 2008. This framework includes the UK’s legislated 2050 net zero target, which the Climate Change Committee has confirmed is consistent with the trajectories of the UK’s 2030 and 2035 NDCs.

The fifth carbon budget was set in 2016, when the UK’s legal target was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% on 1990 levels. The Climate Change Act 2008 was amended in 2019 to strengthen the 2050 target to net zero. The UK's 2030 nationally determined contribution to reduce emissions by at least 68% on 1990 levels was set in 2020 to align with the trajectory to achieve net zero by 2050.

The Government will publish a report setting out its plan to meet carbon budgets in due course. This will set out the policies and proposals needed to meet Carbon Budgets 4-6 and the 2030 and 2035 NDC targets.

The Government's position is consistent with evidence from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, which state that every increment of warming increases the impacts and risks of climate change, including the likelihood of triggering climate tipping points, especially above 1.5 degrees Celsius. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change globally and domestically and further warming will worsen this. This is why the Government committed to an ambitious 1.5C-aligned emissions reduction target at COP29 last month and is encouraging other countries to do the same.

UK’s current and next carbon budgets are set on a territorial basis as follows:

• Carbon Budget 4 (2023-2027) limits UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions to 1,950 MtCO₂e over the period.
• Carbon Budget 5 (2028-2032) limits UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions to 1,725 MtCO₂e over the period.

Carbon Budget 6 (2033-2037) includes emissions from international aviation and shipping and is set at 965 MtCO₂e over the period.

The Carbon Budget levels have been set in line with advice from the independent Climate Change Committee.

The Government will lay a report before Parliament next year, setting out its plans for meeting UK emissions targets up to the end of carbon budget 6 in 2037 - this will set out the forecast emissions savings associated with specific policies and proposals.

The UK’s 2030 nationally determined contribution – to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% on 1990s levels – is a fair and ambitious contribution to global action on climate change, in line with the Paris Agreement temperature goal. NDCs are international communications of ambition under the Paris Agreement, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Alongside our international commitments, the UK was the first country to introduce a legally binding, long-term emissions reduction target under the Climate Change Act 2008. This framework includes the UK’s legislated 2050 net zero target, which the Climate Change Committee has confirmed is consistent with the trajectory of the UK’s 2030 NDC.

The Climate Change Act made the UK the first country to introduce a legally binding, long-term emissions reduction target. This sets our commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in law. As advised by the UK’s Committee on Climate Change in June 2019 and December 2020, this target aligns with the published pathways from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for meeting the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal of 1.5°C.

The Climate Change Act made the UK the first country to introduce a legally binding, long-term emissions reduction target. This sets our commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in law.

We are committed to our targets, and by setting carbon budgets 12 years ahead, we have given both business and the public certainty on carbon budgets. This has also provided a clear framework for the private sector to invest and innovate.

There is strong public support for climate action from Government. We will continue to work with all stakeholders including businesses, local authorities, civil society and investors to meet our net zero targets.

The Paris Agreement holds governments to account for their obligations through transparency and review mechanisms, which can result in reputational damage and international pressure for non-compliance. These mechanisms include the NDC Synthesis Report, which identifies progress made globally against Parties’ Nationally Determined Contributions; the Enhanced Transparency Framework, which requires Parties to report transparently on action taken and progress made; and the Global Stocktake, which requires Parties to periodically take stock of the implementation of their mitigation commitments. Additionally, Parties must provide information necessary to track progress in implementing and achieving their NDCs and participate in the facilitative multilateral consideration of progress, which involves a technical expert review. The Paris Agreement also has a mechanism to facilitate the implementation of and promote compliance with the Agreement. This is supported by an expert Committee which is non-adversarial and non-punitive.

The consultation on banning unlicensed gambling operators from sponsoring sports will launch in spring 2026. We will determine the best timing for any ban to come into effect through consultation.

All Ministerial meetings are declared in the respective quarterly transparency return.

The lead commissioning bodies for research, prevention and treatment who hold responsibility for commissioning decisions have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders as part of their programme development. Both the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and NHS England have communicated regularly with a wide variety of charities in the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to set out timings and requirements for their grant processes.

DCMS remains confident that the levy commissioning processes are being administered appropriately and that all funding decisions will be made on the basis of assessed need, value for money and the ability of applicants to deliver effective, evidence-based interventions.

We are not considering banning sponsorship activities conducted under a British gambling licence, which includes promotion of products and services subject to a white label arrangement with an appropriately licensed business. However, we will take note of responses relating to this issue during our consultation on banning unlicensed operators from sponsoring sport.

We are aware that there have been previous issues with white label partners acting in a manner that is not compatible with the Gambling Commission’s licensing conditions and codes of practice. A licensee is required to undertake due diligence of their white label partners and is held accountable for their actions.

We will work with the Gambling Commission to determine whether any action is required to further ensure that white label arrangements are sufficiently monitored and enforcement action taken where needed.

Operators providing gambling facilities to customers in Great Britain must be licensed by the Gambling Commission and comply with the conditions of their operating licences. The Commission expects them to obey the laws of all other jurisdictions in which they operate, and requires them to report any regulatory investigation or finding into their activities in any other jurisdiction. They must inform the Commission if they have a substantial customer base outside of Britain and state why they consider they are legally able to offer facilities to those customers.

The Commission considers it is for operators to satisfy themselves that they are acting in a lawful manner in other jurisdictions and for authorities in those jurisdictions to investigate if they are not. Where a licensee is found to be operating illegally, the Commission may consider their suitability to hold a licence to offer gambling services in Britain.

Operators wishing to advertise remote gambling in Northern Ireland must hold a Gambling Commission licence, as per the UK’s Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014. However, the Commission’s jurisdiction covers Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. It does not have powers to investigate and prosecute in Northern Ireland as gambling is a devolved matter. Nevertheless, a licensed gambling operator’s behaviour in Northern Ireland, or indeed in any jurisdiction, can inform the Commission’s consideration of whether the operator is suitable to be licensed in Great Britain.

Operators advertising remote gambling in Northern Ireland must also abide by the UK Advertising Codes, which are enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) independently of the government. The ASA cooperates with relevant authorities to address any complaints relating to advertising of remote gambling in Northern Ireland.

As gambling is a devolved issue, gambling consumers in Northern Ireland do not fall under the protection remit of the Gambling Commission. The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for the protection of consumers in Northern Ireland.

Wider gambling regulation is devolved in Northern Ireland and, as such, developing the most appropriate approach to tackle gambling-related harm to help residents in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive. The Gambling Levy Regulations are subject to the jurisdiction of the Gambling Act 2005 and so profits levied in Great Britain will provide funding for projects and services in Great Britain only.

DCMS officials met with Northern Ireland officials in December 2025 to discuss a wide range of issues, including the levy.

Under the Gambling Act 2005, there is no offence for advertising unlicensed gambling. The offence is for the advertising of unlawful gambling under section 330 of the Gambling Act. Unlicensed gambling becomes unlawful if the facilities are available to consumers in Great Britain. If an unlicensed gambling operator can demonstrate that British consumers are blocked from accessing, registering or gambling on its site, it would not be breaking the law. Nevertheless, we are aware that Internet Protocol (IP) blocking technology can be circumvented, usually where consumers use Virtual Private Networks.

It is for the Gambling Commission (GC) to decide when to investigate and what enforcement action may be required. The Commission is already taking forward action in this space. It independently verifies that effective blocking measures are in place, and has taken action where non-compliance has been identified. It may take action if a VPN was not effective or if, for example, the operator advertised routes around the VPN. The GC has had substantial engagement with football clubs on this issue, and has warned sports clubs that they could face prosecution if facilities to gamble are not blocked to consumers in Great Britain. Sports clubs are also expected to conduct ongoing monitoring of their sponsorship arrangements.

The Government believes that banning unlicensed sport sponsorship will bring clarity to this issue, and we will consult on this in spring 2026.

Under the Gambling Act 2005, there is no offence for advertising unlicensed gambling. The offence is for the advertising of unlawful gambling under section 330 of the Gambling Act. Unlicensed gambling becomes unlawful if the facilities are available to consumers in Great Britain. If an unlicensed gambling operator can demonstrate that British consumers are blocked from accessing, registering or gambling on its site, it would not be breaking the law. Nevertheless, we are aware that Internet Protocol (IP) blocking technology can be circumvented, usually where consumers use Virtual Private Networks.

It is for the Gambling Commission (GC) to decide when to investigate and what enforcement action may be required. The Commission is already taking forward action in this space. It independently verifies that effective blocking measures are in place, and has taken action where non-compliance has been identified. It may take action if a VPN was not effective or if, for example, the operator advertised routes around the VPN. The GC has had substantial engagement with football clubs on this issue, and has warned sports clubs that they could face prosecution if facilities to gamble are not blocked to consumers in Great Britain. Sports clubs are also expected to conduct ongoing monitoring of their sponsorship arrangements.

The Government believes that banning unlicensed sport sponsorship will bring clarity to this issue, and we will consult on this in spring 2026.

The Young People and Gambling Survey 2025 identified an increase in youth participation in gambling from 27% to 30% compared to the previous year. This appears to have been driven by an increase in unregulated betting, such as between friends and family (from 15% to 18%).

As part of the gambling statutory levy, we have committed 20% to gambling harm research, which may include assessments of youth gambling participation. This is alongside 30% of levy funding for prevention activities, commissioned by the Office for Health Inequalities and Disparities (OHID), which may include education or awareness raising programmes to help protect those aged 11-17 from gambling related harm. We will continue to monitor the best available evidence when considering possible policy interventions under regulations as set out in the Gambling Act 2005.