Chris Jones represented Tyndall at the Environmental Audit Committee oral evidence session on Net Zero Government.
25 October 2019
The Environmental Audit Committee’s enquiry into Net Zero Government is producing a report into the role of the UK Government’s estate in meeting the Net Zero by 2050 greenhouse gas emissions target.
The Tyndall Centre made two written submissions to the Committee; a cross Tyndall submission; and a collaboration with The University of Manchester’s Environmental Sustainability team. The joint Tyndall submission to the enquiry drew on insights from Asher Minns and Andy Jordan at the University of East Anglia, Steve Westlake, Caroline Verfuerth and Lorraine Whitmarsh at Cardiff University and Claire Hoolohan, Jaise Kuriakose, John Broderick and Carly McLachlan from The University of Manchester. This evidence covers the need for clarity on Net Zero, supporting local area ambitions, saving water, leadership by personal example, breaking-out of unsustainable lock-in, having a meat free government and active travel and telecommuting. The Manchester Environmental Sustainability team submission led by John Broderick focused on how linking sustainability retrofit to the existing maintenance schedule of an institution can deliver carbon savings at lower cost.
In the session MPs were particularly interested in the role of carbon budgets for setting and achieving localised carbon targets and how this has been successfully applied in Greater Manchester already.
Watch a recording of the session at the link below: