ETI comment on Committee on Climate Change letter to Amber Rudd MP on the 5th Carbon Budget

While it is encouraging that the Committee on Climate Change believe current measures will be enough to meet near and medium term targets for now, we share their concerns about the effect that uncertainty around certain technologies, particularly CCS and nuclear, will have on future delivery of the targets.

Now is the time to establish a clarity of direction which enables targeting of industrial and public sector innovation and deployment activity towards critical areas which will reduce the cost of a low carbon energy system transition.

In the decade before the 5th carbon budget takes effect we need to prepare for this transition, which cannot be materially delayed without multi-billion £ long-term cost implications. Whilst clarity of direction will help draw in investments for early deployments we also need to ensure there are strong collaboration incentives which will enable rapid, effective reaction to new, unexpected market developments and consumer propositions which will inevitably arise.