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The Climate Change Committee has delivered a damning verdict on the government鈥檚 鈥渟hocking鈥� failure to retrofit existing homes, with the committee鈥檚 chair describing the attempt to already put in place a zero carbon new build housing standard as 鈥渟candalous鈥�.

The Climate Change Committee鈥檚 (CCC) latest progress report on delivering the government鈥檚 net zero commitment said that the UK was not currently on course to meet its 2050 Net Zero target, with the failure to set out a clear strategy for insulating existing homes a 鈥渟hocking gap in policy鈥�.

A summary of the report produced by the CCC said that while the government had in 2019 promised significant public spending on energy efficiency in homes, and committed to new policies last year, 鈥渘either has yet occurred鈥� and 鈥渋nstallations of insulation remain at rock bottom鈥�.

Pointedly, the body said that if insulation rates from pre-2012 had continued until today, then average energy bills would currently be 拢40 cheaper per annum.

CCC chair Lord Deben also hit out at the government鈥檚 failure to bring in a zero carbon new build standard to date, with the proposed Future Homes Standard 鈥� which the government claims will see homes built as 鈥渮ero carbon ready鈥� 鈥� not coming in to force until 2025. A previous target to ensure all homes were built to a zero carbon standard from 2016 onwards, set by the Labour government, was dropped by the Conservative in 2015.

Lord Deben described this situation, which he said meant that homes built now will require expensive retrofitting in future to meet net zero standards, as 鈥渟candalous鈥�.

He said: 鈥淭he government has willed the ends but not the means.

鈥淭he UK is a champion in setting new climate goals, now we must be world-beaters in delivering them. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, the country is crying out to end its dependence on expensive fossil fuels. I welcome the Government鈥檚 restated commitment to Net Zero, but holes must be plugged in its strategy urgently.鈥�

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The report also called on the government to reform the planning system to put reaching net zero at the heart of it. Lord Deben added: 鈥淣ot only are we waiting for the promised Future Homes Standard but there is as yet no sign of the changes in the planning system necessary to reflect Britain鈥檚 legal obligations for climate mitigation.鈥�

Overall, the CCC found that UK emissions are at just under half (47%) of their 1990 levels, with emissions rising 4% in the last year as the economy bounced back from the covid crisis, but remaining 10% below 2019 levels due to progress on energy generation.

The report says further progress must be led by Government policies with clear direction, credible delivery mechanisms and suitable incentives to shape private sector action, setting out 300 specific recommendations for further action.

Simon McWhirter, director of communications, Policy & Places, at the UK Green 好色先生TV Council, said the bodies members 鈥� including developers and landlords 鈥� were 鈥渉ugely concerned鈥� that government action to decarbonise wasn鈥檛 happening fast enough.

He said: 鈥淭ackling the climate and cost of living crises are two sides of the same coin; insulating our homes will reduce energy bills, bolster energy security and help achieve net zero carbon, whilst also delivering hundreds of thousands of quality jobs. The Government needs to urgently fill the gaping holes in policy for industry to speed up, skill up and scale-up.

鈥淭he CCC rightly identifies that energy efficiency in homes is the most significant policy gap in the building sector; with targets but no plan, funding or timeline for the much-needed policies. We鈥檙e not going to hit our climate targets without a serious package of long-term structural and financial drivers in this area.鈥�