Net zero strategy could lead to more tax, Treasury warns

20 October 2021, 09:38 | Updated: 20 October 2021, 10:50

Households and businesses in the UK could see increased taxes in coming years to meet the cost of hitting the 2050 net zero target, the Treasury has warned.

It comes after the Treasury published a review of the costs to achieve net zero, alongside the Government's strategy on Tuesday.

The department said that the costs of global inaction significantly outweighed the costs of action to tackle climate change.

However, it warned of "material fiscal consequences" from the transition.

It found it was not possible to assess the impact on individual household finances, with higher demands on public spending and a loss of tax revenue from fossil fuels such as fuel duty needing to be addressed.

"If there is to be additional public spending, the Government may need to consider changes to existing taxes and new sources of revenue throughout the transition," the review said.

However, the Treasury argued that the alternative of borrowing to cover costs would instead be unfair on future generations.

Read more: Net zero strategy 'to support up to 440,000 jobs', business minister says

Read more: Tory MP: Government's net zero plan 'the stuff of madness'

Business Secretary denies tax rises are inevitable for net zero plans

Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: "I don’t think that tax rises are inevitable.

"If you look at how we’ve moved just in the last 10 years in this green transition - 10 years ago 40 per cent of our electricity came from coal and today that figure is one to two per cent - renewables have taken up most of that difference and costs haven't gone up in that time actually.

"I think the green 'revolution' is a huge opportunity for people to invest all over the world."

He went on to explain: "What [the Treasury's] modelling suggested didn't factor in the actual investment that we're going to be attracting to new technologies."

Green Party peer hits out at government net zero plan

It comes after Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay told LBC's Iain Dale that "the costs are truly colossal" when it comes to retrofitting British households.

He said that calculations bring the cost at "over £30,000 per household" which is roughly a £960 billion bill for the taxpayer.

However, Business minister Greg Hands told the Commons on Tuesday that the strategy would be able to support up to 440,000 jobs across different sectors and unlock £90 billion in private investment.

Read more: 'Gas boilers must be banned after 2025 to hit net-zero emissions' - International Energy Agency

The Government published the long-awaited net zero strategy ahead of the COP26 climate talks, which the UK is set to host at the end of the month.

The strategy outlined plans to meet legal targets to cut emissions to net zero by 2050, cutting pollution as much as possible and using measures such as woodland creation to mop up what remains.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The UK’s path to ending our contribution to climate change will be paved with well-paid jobs, billions in investment and thriving green industries – powering our green industrial revolution across the country.

"By moving first and taking bold action, we will build a defining competitive edge in electric vehicles, offshore wind, carbon capture technology and more, whilst supporting people and businesses along the way.

"With the major climate summit COP26 just around the corner, our strategy sets the example for other countries to build back greener too as we lead the charge towards global net zero."