-
Boris Johnson failing on UK plan to reach net zero, say MPs

Public accounts committee report says despite green rhetoric, government policy is falling short
Boris Johnson has failed to set out a plan for the UK to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions despite the government’s green rhetoric, a committee of MPs has found.
Ministers are failing to instruct their departments to take the net zero goal into account when setting policy, there has been little coordination between central and local government on achieving emissions reductions, and the public has not been engaged, the public accounts committee said in a report published on Friday.
Meg Hillier, the committee chair, said: “Government has set itself a huge test in committing the UK to a net zero economy by 2050, but there is little sign that it understands how to get there and almost two years
She said all aspects of government policy, from post-Brexit trade deals to the pledges to “level up” the country, must be included. The UK will host the Cop26 climate summit this November in Glasgow, at which the government’s task will be to bring countries together with strong targets to fulfil the Paris climate agreement.
“The eyes of the world, its scientists and policymakers are on the UK. Big promises full of fine words won’t stand up,” said Hillier.
The UK was one of the first countries in the world to set a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, a target scientists say is necessary globally to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown. The UK goal was enshrined in law in June 2019 in one of Theresa May’s last acts as prime minister, and since then dozens of other countries and blocs have followed suit, including the EU, China and Japan.
Cutting carbon to the extent needed will be a mammoth task involving all sections of the economy and society, and the MPs said much more work was needed across government to develop the policies necessary.
A government spokesperson rejected the charge that there was no plan to reach net zero. “It is nonsense to say the government does not have a plan when we have been leading the world in tackling climate change, cutting emissions by almost 44% since 1990 and doing so faster than any other developed nation in recent years,” they said. “Only this week in the budget we build on the prime minister’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution by encouraging private investment in green growth, and we are bringing forward bold proposals to cut emissions and create new jobs and industries across the whole country.”
Last year Johnson set out a 10-point plan that he said would deliver net zero emissions, including commitments to a massive increase in offshore wind power generation, the possibility of new nuclear power plants, help to develop new technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, and pledges to plant more trees.
However, critics have said the plan is short on detail and has not been followed up with the policy changes needed to bring about a “green recovery” from the coronavirus crisis.
This week’s budget contained only a scattering of references to “green” growth and jobs, and the chancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak, spent only about two minutes of his budget speech setting out green measures.
Last year in the emergency spending review in which Sunak responded to the coronavirus crisis, the government promised to “build back greener”, but its flagship policy for doing so – the green homes grant to subsidise home insulation and low-carbon heating – has fallen into disarray.
Mike Childs, the head of policy at Friends of the Earth, said: “Yet again this appears to be a government that’s long on rhetoric but short on action when it comes to dealing with the climate crisis. With the world on the brink of catastrophic climate change, why is there still no national plan to insulate our heat-leaking homes, fund the mass rollout of eco-heating, or make public transport an efficient and affordable alternative to the car? And why are local authorities still starved of cash and powers they need to help communities go green?”
He said other countries were scrutinising the UK carefully as the host of Cop26. “Without a comprehensive action plan to meet its net zero target, the government risks being a massive embarrassment when it hosts the forthcoming climate summit in Glasgow,” he said.
Darren Jones, the Labour chair of parliament’s business, energy and industrial strategy committee, also called for more action before Cop26. His committee published a separate report on Friday calling on ministers to be clearer about the goals of the climate conference.
Jones said: “The budget was clearly not good enough in terms of reaching net zero. There is a gap between what the government says and what it is doing on green issues. We need to get our own house in order before Cop26.”
source: Fiona Harvey
Levant
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!