Meeting of the Parliament 11 December 2025
It is a 15-year plan. Uncertainty around United Kingdom Government action, technological advancements and market decisions make the distribution of costs extremely challenging to estimate. We have set out the costs in line with the legislation. We know that the scale of change that will be needed for the next part of our net zero journey is significant, and that delivering our net zero target by 2045 will require the transformation of our economy and society, underpinned by sustained investment, both public and private. I end by quoting Professor Graeme Roy, the chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, who said:
“Doing nothing, not responding to the challenge of climate change, will be far more expensive and damaging to the public finances than investing in net zero … it is simply not an option.”
I agree whole-heartedly with Professor Roy.