Hosted by EDRC
Overview
This event presents the findings of a new policy brief investigating the wider benefits of net-zero policy.
The UK Government is working to reach net zero emissions by 2050 while also addressing the cost-of-living crisis, pressures on public health, job shortages, and energy security. Increasingly, policymakers recognise that climate action can help tackle these challenges simultaneously. For example, reducing energy demand can lower household bills, improve health by making homes warmer and reducing air pollution, and lessen reliance on imported fossil fuels.
To support better decision-making, new appraisal frameworks are being developed to assess these synergies and trade-offs between net zero and other economic, social, and environmental priorities. Frameworks used to assess the ‘co-benefits’ of climate action will shape how future policy choices are evaluated and prioritised; see for example: The UK Co-benefits Atlas.
Drawing on evidence from across the UK, the session will explore:
· Why incorporating multiple impacts into policy appraisal matters for the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
· Why policy analysts and officers use monetary and qualitative approaches to assess the wider benefits of climate action, including in the Seventh Carbon Budget, local government decisions, and public procurement.
· How evidence about the wider benefits of climate action – and who benefits or is adversely affected – shapes public attitudes toward climate policy decisions.
· Policy implications of co-benefit assessments for the Warm Homes Plan, Local Power Plan, and Green Book Reforms.
Event format:
· 35-minute presentation – Prof Tim Foxon, Ruaidhri Higgins-Lavery, Dr Josh Lait & Dr Andrew Sudmant.
· 15-minute reflection from UK policymakers – Dr Gemma Bone Dodds Scottish National Investment Bank, Dr Sean Field DESNZ, and TBD.
· 40 minutes of audience discussion.
All are welcome! This event will be of particular interest to policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders seeking to improve decision-making for net zero. The session will provide an opportunity to discuss how new co-benefit appraisal frameworks can support the successful implementation of recent UK energy policies.
Find out more and register.