Policy paper

Interministerial Group for Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Communiqué: 13 October 2020

Updated 2 May 2024

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

The Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Interministerial Group met on 13 October 2020. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (BEIS), Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP.

Attendees

The attending Ministers were as follows.

From the UK government

  • Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (BEIS), Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP

From the Scottish Government

  • Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP
  • Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Scottish Government, Paul Wheelhouse MSP

From the Welsh Government

  • Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths MS

From the Northern Ireland Executive

  • Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots MLA

What was discussed

The Interministerial Group discussed an update from the negotiations with the EU in relation to energy and climate change. There was a focus on whether the UK would adopt an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) or a carbon tax, should a linked Emissions Trading Scheme with the EU not be negotiated.

The Group also discussed the setting of the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for emissions reductions by 2030.

Finally, the Group noted the importance of working together going forward, with all Ministers welcoming the opportunities provided by this Interministerial Group.