London, UK: The UK government’s low-carbon strategy has been criticised by an array of experts as having little merit.
The plans contain no new government spending, and campaigners said they missed out key elements. Ministers are also thought to have rejected or modified scores of the 130 policy recommendations made by Tory MP Chris Skidmore in his review of the net-zero strategy, published in January.
Controversial technology is at the centre of the ‘powering up Britain’ strategy, but critics argue it is unproven, especially at the sale need. The UK government will defy scientific doubts to boost investment in capture and store of carbon dioxide in undersea caverns to enable North Sea oil and gas production to increase.
More than 700 scientists have written to the prime minister asking him to grant no new oil and gas licences, describing carbon capture and storage as “yet to be proved at scale”.
Logistics UK welcomed progress on green energy and energy security but was disappointed at the lack of plans for a green transition for larger vehicles.
Kate Jennings, director of policy, Logistics UK, said: “… it remains vital that the government provides a delivery roadmap for commercial electric vehicle infrastructure, low carbon fuels and rail electrification, so businesses can invest in confidence.
“For operators electrifying their fleet, the capital expenditure required for depot charging can be extortionately high, with some operators who are currently in the process of electrifying their van fleets reporting costs of over £1 million – which is often not commercially viable, especially if premises are leased. The UK therefore needs a roadmap for electric logistics vehicles that includes a fair approach to funding electricity connections for depot charging. Public charge points must ensure sufficient space for logistics vehicles and fast charging points to enable operators to maximise the efficiency of fleets.”
Logistics UK says that if the country is to achieve net-zero by 2050 in line with government’s stated objectives, comprehensive strategies must be published as soon as possible, in consultation with the sector.
Grant Shapps, the energy and net zero secretary, will on Thursday unveil the “powering up Britain” strategy, with carbon capture and storage at its heart. Shapps said: “Unless you can explain how we can transition [to net zero] without oil and gas, we need oil and gas. I am very keen that we fill those cavities with storing carbon. I think there are huge opportunities for us to do that.”
Among the 1,000 pages of proposals to be published on Thursday will be boosts for offshore wind, hydrogen, heat pumps and electric vehicles. A green finance strategy, to be set out by the chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, will be aimed at mobilising private-sector money for investments in green industry, and there will be a consultation on carbon border taxes, aimed at penalising the import of high-carbon goods.
