Ramping up of net zero transition must be done in a way that supports poorer households’ living standards 18 July 2024 Commenting on the Climate Change Committee’s latest UK Progress Report, Jonny Marshall, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “As well as setting out why the new government needs to be massively ramp up progress on net zero, this report sets out clear priorities on how to do this. “Lowering the cost of electricity will play a key role in fast-forwarding the net zero transition – making heat pumps and electric cars cheaper to run, but potentially increasing household gas prices. This will need to be handled carefully given the extent to which energy bills directly impact household living standards. A new social tariff should be implemented to make this journey smoother, and protect poorer households from any additional costs. “The rollout of heat pumps, raising energy efficiency standards for rented properties, and ending the sale of petrol and diesel cars, all have the potential to benefit poorer households’ family budgets, but only if delivered through stable policy, and with fairness and equity in mind.”
