The government has been criticized for jeopardizing the UK’s net zero targets with “shaky” plans.

Britain risks missing its legal 2050 net-zero emissions target, MPs have warned.

A failure of long-term planning and investment and the government’s “shaky approach” mean plans to use new technologies to ensure the UK meets its climate commitments are in jeopardy, an influential parliamentary public finance committee has said.

Government support for new green technology solutions is seen as being too short-term, undermining and wasting vital private investment needed to achieve net zero emissions.

MPs noted a “lack of clarity for businesses and lack of consumer support” in achieving climate targets. They highlighted the minister’s decision to delay the retirement of new fossil fuel vehicles and heating systems in September.

They predict that to meet the 2050 target, investment in the UK from all sources will need to double or triple each year compared with last year’s government estimate of £23 billion, with the majority coming from the private sector.

He warns of a lack of transparency and that there is no single person or organization responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of government support for decarbonization. “The absence of such oversight risks a lack of targeted support, a clear point of contact for companies and researchers, and the persistence of barriers to market entry,” warn MEPs.

As a result, companies have difficulty finding and securing government funding. The committee complains about the lack of targeted support and the lack of a point of contact for companies or researchers from whom they could get advice or support for innovation.

Dame Meg Hillier, the committee’s MP, said: “We have consistently warned about the damage that a lack of long-term planning and funding from the government can have on policy implementation.”

“There is no more important area where this is true than net zero. If the government continues to allow companies to see through the veil of uncertainty, these investments will not succeed.

“When it comes to supporting innovation to achieve net zero, the government needs to agree with itself about what successes and failures look like, and report transparently on progress.”

She added: “It is disappointing that such fundamental building blocks are missing four years after a promise vital to our way of life was made.”

“The Government must end this misguided approach or risk sending a message to industry, the public and the world that the UK is simply not taking climate change seriously.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero said: “The UK is a world leader in clean energy and has attracted £200 billion of low carbon investment since 2010, with a further £100 billion expected by 2030, powering the UK. .” Energy and up to 480,000 companies are supported. Vacancies.

“We are also investing £4.2 billion in long-term research and innovation.

“We are a global leader in the fight against climate change, cutting emissions by nearly 50 percent since 1990 and decarbonizing the economy faster than any other major economy.”

In a PAC report, a second group of MPs called on the Government to “double down” on UK leadership on climate change ahead of the Cop28 summit in Dubai later this month.

Members of the cross-party parliamentary group on the environment, Conservative MP Chris Skidmore, said it was particularly important for the UK to take a leading role in Cop28 after Rishi Sunak abandoned several environmental commitments earlier this year.

Mr Skidmore said: “The UK must redouble its climate leadership to be both ambitious and persistent on the path to net zero.” climate goals with our commitment to setting new goals.”