Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of ending the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme after 2028 on (a) commitments to reach 100% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and (b) public sector (i) emissions and (ii) climate resilience.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
By the time the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme concludes in 2028, it will have delivered approximately £3.5 billion in capital funding to over 1,400 projects across England. These investments have supported heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency upgrades in public sector buildings, contributing to emissions reductions and progress toward net zero as well as climate resilience.
The Government will shortly publish its Carbon Budgets and Growth Delivery Plan, which will outline plans for non-domestic buildings, including the public sector. The Warm Homes Plan will also set out plans to support the decarbonisation of buildings.
No estimate has been made of the impacts on public sector climate resilience resulting from not decarbonising the public sector.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of the (a) funding required to fully decarbonise the public sector and (b) adaptation costs from not fully decarbonising that sector.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The internal estimate made by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in 2022 suggests that fully decarbonising the public sector would cost between £25–30 billion. The Department is currently updating this based on more recent cost assumptions. No estimate has been made regarding the adaptation costs that may arise from not decarbonising the public sector.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason he plans to end grant funding for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme after 2028; and if he will provide funding to support the decarbonisation of the public sector beyond 2028.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The decision not to provide further funding for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme was taken in the context of wider fiscal pressures and competing priorities which required difficult choices during the 2025 Spending Review.
In addition to the £1bn for public sector decarbonisation between 2025/26 and 2027/28, the Government and Great British Energy Solar programme is investing £255 million to fund around 250 schools, 260 NHS sites and 15 military sites to install solar panels.
Additional detail on the Government’s approach will be set out in the forthcoming Carbon Budgets and Growth Delivery Plan.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution emissions reduction target, what his emissions reduction target is against a 2019 emissions baseline.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
The UK has set an ambitious 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared to base year levels. The base year is 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and 1995 for hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride.
The latest 2019 emissions statistic can be found in the Government’s publication of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions here.
UK 2035 NDC performance will be assessed in 2037 based on the latest emissions estimates available at the time. Historical emissions estimates are revised annually to incorporate new data, improved methods and changes to international guidelines. Therefore, the % reductions on specific years (excluding the base year) are subject to change.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement, what his emissions reduction target is in each year between 2025 and 2035.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
The UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is a target to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% compared to 1990 levels. The 2035 NDC is consistent with the effort to deliver against the UK’s sixth carbon budget (2033-37), as set out in the Climate Change Act. The sixth carbon budget limits UK emissions to an annual average of 193 megatons carbon dioxide equivalent, including international aviation and shipping.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether it is his policy to stop issuing development consents for all new oil and gas fields.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has committed that it will not revoke existing licences and will partner with business and workers to manage our existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan.
We have already consulted on revised environmental guidance for development consents to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas to provide stability for industry.
This consultation closed in January, and we are working to have guidance in place as soon as possible.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the cost to the public purse was of legal services used by the Government in relation to potential Rosebank oil and gas field development since 4 July 2024; and whether further legal costs have been accounted for in his Department’s (a) current and (b) future budgets.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has paid a total of £26,773 in legal fees relating to the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields since 4 July 2024.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the oil and gas sector contributes to meeting global climate targets.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and meeting global climate targets.
The Government supports action on decarbonising oil and gas production and is consulting on new guidance to ensure the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects. The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to publish a consultation on licences to explore new oil and gas fields.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in due course.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea on the Paris Agreement goal to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
At COP28, the UK and others agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in an orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade. This is essential to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach. The Government has acted swiftly to consult on new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms to ensure that the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects.
The Government will consult on the implementation of its manifesto position, not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.