Carbon Emissions: Costs
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the projected cost is of achieving net zero by 2050, including costs to government, business and households.
Answered by Katie White
Net zero is the economic and industrial opportunity of the 21st century. Since July 2024, over £60bn of private investment has been announced in our clean energy industries.
The independent CCC estimates net costs of the transition to be on average the equivalent of 0.2% of UK GDP per year, and this doesn't account for the wider growth benefits. The OBR's ‘Fiscal risks and sustainability report’ (2025) makes clear, meeting climate targets will cost less than failing to deal with climate change. Only by investing in the transition now can we reduce costs in future.
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