Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of Regionally and Locally Determined Contributions in order to (a) complement and (b) support the delivery of the UK’s Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce at least 68 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Under the Paris Agreement, parties should communicate nationally determined contributions that represent their highest possible ambition. In line with best practice approach for developed countries, the UK communicated a single economy wide absolute emission reduction commitment which covers all UK regions and local authorities. This is then reflected in our national Carbon Budgets.

The Government recognises that local and regional government can, and do, play an essential role in meeting national net zero ambitions and are delivering significant programmes to support national ambition.

Through our local Energy programme, we support Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, and communities to play a leading role in decarbonisation and clean growth. Further details of how we intend to work with local government to reach net zero will be set out in the Net Zero Strategy.