AFTER a year of delays, the UK Government will publish the Energy White Paper, Heat Strategy and Buildings Strategy alongside the Autumn Statement, Alok Sharma has confirmed.
The Energy White Paper, originally due in summer 2019, is set to outline the roadmap for net zero, helping the industry to move forwards towards the legally binding 2050 target.
Speaking at a BEIS Committee hearing late last week, the Secretary of State for BEIS was questioned on the schedule of key green policy packages which have faced delayed due to December’s general election, Brexit, and the coronavirus pandemic.
The Heat Strategy will also be published in Autumn, Mr Sharma told MPs.
When speaking of Energy White Paper, Mr Sharma reportedly admitted it has been ‘anticipated for some time under several secretaries of state.’
According to edie, Mr Sharma commented: “I want to show ambition in publishing these when I say Autumn.
“I think what’s very important is for us to be coordinated in terms of wider policy announcements that are made.
“I’m not going to pre-empt what the Chancellor will say at Budget or Spending Review – that would not be wise – but the direction of travel is very clear.
“We’re at this very interesting point in time where you have large corporates as well as civil society, non-state actors and governments coming together and realising that, actually, a green recovery is the way forward…
“In my role as COP26 president, I have discussions on these particular issues daily with colleagues and can see that this is something gaining real resonance internationally.”
Last month a group of net zero campaigners submitted a claim for judicial review that claimed the White Paper may not be published before late 2021.
