The UK’s top climate adviser has pushed back strongly against “defeatist” criticism that the country’s net zero target is expensive.
Chris Stark, the head of the Committee on Climate Change, has urged the Treasury to pick up the currently “incremental” pace of decarbonisation.
He added that the debate over net zero needed to be framed in a more positive light. “I hope we can move away from thinking about the cost and see it as a mission to modernise the economy.”
Two years ago, the UK led the world in adopting a 2050 net zero target. In recent weeks, however, there has been a wave of criticism by commentators that the costs are too high.
Stark said it was essential for the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to endorse the government’s net zero plan because his spending review would shape its prospects.
