Government warned climate crisis policies ‘doomed to fail’ without action on heating

The government’s efforts to decarbonise the economy are “doomed to fail” unless it bans new gas boilers and takes other steps to decarbonise the heating supply, businesses and academics have warned.

The intervention from the CBI and experts at the University of Birmingham comes as ministers unveil a £350m slate of investments to cut emissions in heavy industry, construction, and transport.

But a report by the new Heat Commission says the government must go further and completely ban the installation of conventional gas boilers in homes from 2025.

The cash announced by the government is relatively small-scale: a single scheme to electrify part of the Great Western Mainline cost £2.8bn, for example. Cancelled rail electrification schemes in Wales, the Midlands and the North of England are yet to be reinstated.

“A green recovery and progress towards the UK’s net-zero emission target are doomed to fail if we don’t address the urgent need to decarbonise the heat in our homes and buildings,” said CBI president and Heat Commission chair, Lord Karan Bilimoria.

“Recent government announcements will undoubtedly fast-forward our transition towards net-zero. The commission’s recommendations offer a roadmap to accelerate progress, ensure our nation stays on a path to sustainable recovery and ensures the UK remains a global leader in meeting climate commitments.

“Aside from the moral imperative, there’s also a strong economic case for protecting our planet. Large-scale heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency would provide a huge jobs boost for the economy at a time when new career opportunities are needed more than ever.”

The Heat Commission’s report says a national delivery body modelled on the one that planned the 2012 Olympics should be set up to prioritise energy efficiency and decarbonise the heating sector.

Heating accounts for 40 per cent of the UK’s energy consumption and is largely delivered from natural gas.

Professor Martin Freer of the University of Birmingham, said: “Delivering decarbonisation of heating is the biggest energy challenge we face in getting to net-zero. Unlike electricity, which can be changed at a systems level, it requires over 20 million households to adopt new energy efficiency measures and new ways of generating heat.

“There is not a single technology choice and the scale-up required in skills, manufacturing, distribution infrastructure and consumer engagement is huge. The level of coordination to deliver this needs to reach from the regional to national, with appropriate resources being devolved to the local level to be successful. The level of complexity and the urgency for change means the transition cannot be left to chance and a national delivery body is essential.”

Former chancellor Philip Hammond announced in March last year that new homes would not be allowed to have gas boilers from 2025 – a weaker commitment. A number of alternatives already exist, including heat pumps and hydrogen boilers.

The government’s new cash includes £139m to scale up carbon capture storage in heavy industry, and £149m for 13 projects on the issue of “innovative materials”, such as the development of recyclable steel and the reuse of waste ash in the ceramics industry. There is also £26m to support advanced new building techniques and £10m has been set aside for research in the automotive sector.

The government has committed to bringing the UK to net zero carbon by 2050. At the 2019 general election Labour said the process should be accelerated, with substantial progress by 2030, but the party now says it will set a new policy before the next general election based on the situation then.

Boris Johnson said the UK has made “great strides towards our net zero target over the last year”, but added: “It’s more important than ever that we keep up the pace of change to fuel a green, sustainable recovery as we rebuild from the pandemic.

“The UK now has a huge opportunity to cement its place at the vanguard of green innovation, setting an example worldwide while growing the economy and creating new jobs. That’s why we’re backing cutting-edge research to cut costs and carbon across our great British industries, and even paving the way for the first ever zero emission long haul passenger flight – so that our green ambitions remain sky high as we build back better for both our people and our planet.”

Business and energy secretary, Alok Sharma, said climate change was “among the greatest challenges of our age”. “To tackle it we need to unleash innovation in businesses across the country,” he said. “This funding will reduce emissions, create green collar jobs and fuel a strong, clean economic recovery – all essential to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”