The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: National Strategy for Climate And

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: National Strategy for Climate And The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan National strategy for climate and energy Five point plan The UK Government has a five point plan to tackle climate change. 1. Protecting the public from 4. Building a low carbon UK immediate risk To play our part in reducing global Climate change is already happening in emissions, Britain needs to become a the UK - the ten hottest years on record low carbon country. The 2008 Climate have all been since 1990. The Government Change Act made Britain the first country has more than doubled spending on in the world to set legally binding ‘carbon flood protection since 1997, developed a budgets’, aiming to cut UK emissions by heat wave plan in the NHS and is helping 34% by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050 communities affected by coastal erosion. through investment in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies such as 2. Preparing for the future renewables, nuclear and carbon capture Whatever is done to reduce emissions and storage. in the future, past emissions mean that This White Paper sets out the UK’s some climate change is already inevitable. transition plan for building a low carbon The UK Climate Projections will be used UK: cutting emissions, maintaining secure to help plan for a future with a changing energy supplies, maximising economic climate. Factoring climate risk into opportunities and protecting the most decision making means, for example, vulnerable. changing the way we build our houses and infrastructure, managing water better 5. Supporting individuals, and adjusting farming practices. communities and businesses 3. Limiting the severity to play their part of future climate change Everyone has a role to play in tackling climate change, from reducing their own through a new international emissions to planning for adaptation. climate agreement Building on our ‘Act on CO2’ information To limit global temperature increases to campaign, the Government is providing no more than two degrees and avoid the a range of support for individuals, most dangerous effects of climate change, communities and businesses, including the Government is leading international a major programme of financial help for efforts to achieve a new international home insulation and energy efficiency. climate agreement at Copenhagen in December. The deal needs to ensure global emissions start to fall within the next decade and be at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2050. The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan National strategy for climate and energy Presented to Parliament pursuant to Sections 12 and 14 of the Climate Change Act 2008 15 July 2009 £34.55 © Crown Copyright 2009 The text in this document (excluding the Royal Arms and other departmental or agency logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context.The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the title of the document specified. Where we have identified any third party copyright material you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. For any other use of this material please write to Office of Public Sector Information, Information Policy Team, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU or e-mail: [email protected] ISBN: 9780108508394 Foreword Foreword by Secretary of State The transition to a low-carbon economy will be one of the defining issues of the 21st century. This plan sets out a route-map for the UK’s transition from here to 2020. With the discipline of carbon budgets, legally binding limits on emissions, we plan to drive change in every area: the way we generate energy, the way we heat our homes and workplaces and the way we travel. In Britain, as our own reserves in the North Sea decline, we have a choice: replace them with ever-increasing imports, be subject to price fluctuations and disturbances in the world market and stick with high carbon; or make the necessary transition to low carbon, right for climate change, energy security and jobs. The transition gives us the chance to lead the clean industries of the future. In demonstrating the technology to capture carbon dioxide and lock it away, for example, we can lay the pipes and the infrastructure for new, sustainable industrial hubs, and we gain the engineering knowledge to win contracts installing it in other countries. Across business, we can build up the skills to be more resource- efficient. Like the internet, saving carbon can become part of how business is done: every financial officer knowing their savings and liabilities from carbon, every builder having the skills to build in a way which saves energy. There will be costs to the transition. But they are far outweighed by the costs if we didn’t act and faced the expense of adapting and coping with dangerous climate change. The task for government is to minimise the costs of the low carbon path and spread them fairly. That’s why we are committed to drive forward energy efficiency, ensure tough regulation and provide extra support for the most vulnerable. The transition will show that Britain, while not the biggest country in the world or the largest polluter, can lead in preventing the worst effects of climate change. The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan National strategy for climate and energy The new predictions from the Met Office and other scientists, the most detailed yet, show that the impacts of climate change are not just an issue for other countries and future generations, but an urgent issue for Britain. Making the transition will take strategic action by government and a comprehensive plan. This is that plan. It shows sector-by-sector what savings can be achieved and how every department across government will take responsibility. But the changes cannot be done by government alone. There has been good progress – Britain has already cut 21% of emissions since 1990 but the move to carbon budgets signals a change of pace, and the scale of the task is enormous. So alongside the country’s low carbon transition plan, every business, every community will need to be involved. Together we can create a more secure, more prosperous low carbon Britain and a world which is sustainable for future generations. Ed Miliband Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change 1 Contents Executive summary 3 Chapter 8: Developing a roadmap to 2050 165 Changes over the next 10 years 16 Chapter 9: Chapter 1: Further action in Northern Ireland, The challenge 21 Scotland and Wales 179 Chapter 2: Driving the transition 35 Annex A: Chapter 3: Table of proposals and policies to Transforming our power sector 51 meet the UK carbon budgets 195 Chapter 4: Annex B: Transforming our homes and Departmental carbon budgets 215 communities 77 Chapter 5: Transforming our workplaces and jobs 111 Top tips 220 Chapter 6: Transforming transport 133 Chapter 7: Transforming farming and managing our land and waste sustainably 151 3 Executive summary 4 The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan National strategy for climate and energy • Introducing clean energy cash-back Summary schemes so that people and businesses will be paid if they use low carbon sources to generate This White Paper sets out the UK’s first ever heat or electricity. comprehensive low carbon transition plan to • Opening a competition for 15 towns, 2020. This plan will deliver emission cuts of cities and villages to be at the forefront of 18% on 2008 levels by 2020 (and over a one pioneering green innovation. third reduction on 1990 levels). Helping the most vulnerable by: Key steps include: • Creating mandated social price support For the first time,all major UK Government at the earliest opportunity with increased departments have been allocated their resources compared to the current voluntary own carbon budget and must produce their system. The Government is minded to focus own plan. new resources particularly on older pensioners Getting 40% of our electricity from low on the lowest incomes. carbon sources by 2020 with policies to: • Piloting a community-based approach • Produce around 30% of our electricity to delivering green homes in low income from renewables by 2020 by substantially areas, helping around 90,000 homes. increasing the requirement for electricity • Increasing the level of Warm Front grants suppliers to sell renewable electricity. so most eligible applicants can receive their • Fund up to four demonstrations of energy saving measures without having to capturing and storing emissions from contribute payment themselves. coal power stations. Helping make the UK a centre of green • Facilitate the building of new nuclear power industry by supporting the development and stations. use of clean technologies, including up to £120 million investment in offshore wind and Clarifying that Ofgem, in its job to protect an additional £60 million to cement the consumers, both current and future, should UK’s position as a global leader in marine help tackle climate change and ensure energy. security of supply. Transforming transport by cutting average Making homes greener by: carbon dioxide emissions from new cars • Channelling about £3.2 billion to help across the EU by 40% on 2007 levels, households become more energy efficient supporting the largest demonstration project in by increasing the current programme by 20% the world for new electric cars, and sourcing between 2008 and 2011 and then extending it 10% of UK transport energy from sustainable to the end of 2012. renewable sources by 2020. • Rolling out smart meters in every home The first ever formal framework for tackling by the end of 2020. emissions from farming. • Piloting “pay as you save” ways to help Producing a longer term roadmap for the people make their whole house greener – transition to a low carbon UK for the period the savings made on energy bills will be used 2020 to 2050 by next spring and a vision for a to repay the upfront costs.
Recommended publications
  • The Economics of the Green Investment Bank: Costs and Benefits, Rationale and Value for Money
    The economics of the Green Investment Bank: costs and benefits, rationale and value for money Report prepared for The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills Final report October 2011 The economics of the Green Investment Bank: cost and benefits, rationale and value for money 2 Acknowledgements This report was commissioned by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Vivid Economics would like to thank BIS staff for their practical support in the review of outputs throughout this project. We would like to thank McKinsey and Deloitte for their valuable assistance in delivering this project from start to finish. In addition, we would like to thank the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the Carbon Trust and Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL), for their valuable support and advice at various stages of the research. We are grateful to the many individuals in the financial sector and the energy, waste, water, transport and environmental industries for sharing their insights with us. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors and not those of BIS or any other party, and the authors take responsibility for any errors or omissions. An appropriate citation for this report is: Vivid Economics in association with McKinsey & Co, The economics of the Green Investment Bank: costs and benefits, rationale and value for money, report prepared for The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, October 2011 The economics of the Green Investment Bank: cost and benefits, rationale and value for money 3 Executive Summary The UK Government is committed to achieving the transition to a green economy and delivering long-term sustainable growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Labour's Zero-Based Review
    Labour’s Zero-Based Review Interim Report Number 15: Department for Energy and Climate Change Labour’s Zero-Based Review Interim Report No.15 DEPARTMENT FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE FOREWORD The leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, and the Shadow ChanCellor, Ed Balls, have made Clear that departmental budgets will be cut not only in 2015-16, but each year until we have achieved our promise to balanCe the books. Across every part of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), we need to take a tighter approach to finanCial management of taxpayers’ money, and reform the framework within which the energy market operates so that it is fair for bill payers. Under the Tory’s failing plan, energy bills have risen, and energy Companies have failed to pass on falling wholesale Costs. Record numbers of families with children Cannot afford to heat their homes. Investors face unCertainty and indeCision about the future of our energy system. And the mismanagement of taxpayers’ money, such as through the Government’s poor-value Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, and the NuClear Decommissioning Authority’s budget, have seen tens of millions of pounds wasted. Britain needs a government that will stand up to the energy Companies to deliver fairer prices and a better deal for bill payers. A government that is serious about tackling the sCandal of fuel poverty and cold homes. And a government that is putting in place the vital reforms neCessary for investment in the low Carbon future of our energy system, and to deliver value for money for the taxpayer.
    [Show full text]
  • The Performance of the Department of Energy & Climate Change 2012-13
    DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW The performance of the Department of Energy & Climate Change 2012-13 NOVEMBER 2013 Our vision is to help the nation spend wisely. Our public audit perspective helps Parliament hold government to account and improve public services. The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending for Parliament and is independent of government. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Amyas Morse, is an Officer of the House of Commons and leads the NAO, which employs some 860 staff. The C&AG certifies the accounts of all government departments and many other public sector bodies. He has statutory authority to examine and report to Parliament on whether departments and the bodies they fund have used their resources efficiently, effectively, and with economy. Our studies evaluate the value for money of public spending, nationally and locally. Our recommendations and reports on good practice help government improve public services, and our work led to audited savings of almost £1.2 billion in 2012. Contents Introduction Aim and scope of this briefing 4 Part One About the Department 5 Part Two Recent NAO work on the Department 24 Appendix One The Department’s sponsored bodies at 1 April 2013 29 Appendix Two Results of the Civil Service People Survey 2012 30 Appendix Three Publications by the NAO on the Department since April 2011 32 Appendix Four Cross-government reports of relevance to the Department since April 2011 34 Links to external websites were valid at the time of publication of this report. The National Audit Office is not responsible for the future validity of the links.
    [Show full text]
  • Tyndall Centre Briefing Note 40
    Review of the Fourth Carbon Budget - Call for Evidence www.theccc.org.uk/call-for-evidence Question and Response form When responding please provide answers that are as specific and evidence-based as possible, providing data and references to the extent possible. Please limit your response to a maximum of 400 words per question. Questions for consideration: A. Climate Science and International Circumstances The Committee’s advice assumes a climate objective to limit central estimates of temperature rise to as close to 2C as possible, with a very low chance of exceeding 4C by 2100 (henceforth referred to as “the climate objective”). This is broadly similar to the UNFCCC climate objective, and that of the EU. In order to achieve this objective, global emissions would have to peak in the next few years, before decreasing to roughly half of recent levels by 2050 and falling further thereafter. The UNFCCC is working toward a global deal consistent with such reductions, to be agreed by 2015. Earlier attempts (e.g. at Copenhagen in 2009, before the fourth budget was recommended or legislated) have failed to achieve a comprehensive global deal to limit emissions. It is difficult to imagine a global deal which allows developed countries to have emissions per capita in 2050 which are significantly above a sustainable global average, implying the need for emissions reductions in the UK of at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. The EU has not yet agreed a package beyond 2020, but the European Commission is consulting on a range of issues relating to development of climate and energy targets for 2030.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C
    Global warming of 1.5°C An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty Summary for Policymakers Edited by Valérie Masson-Delmotte Panmao Zhai Co-Chair Working Group I Co-Chair Working Group I Hans-Otto Pörtner Debra Roberts Co-Chair Working Group II Co-Chair Working Group II Jim Skea Priyadarshi R. Shukla Co-Chair Working Group III Co-Chair Working Group III Anna Pirani Wilfran Moufouma-Okia Clotilde Péan Head of WGI TSU Head of Science Head of Operations Roz Pidcock Sarah Connors J. B. Robin Matthews Head of Communication Science Officer Science Officer Yang Chen Xiao Zhou Melissa I. Gomis Science Officer Science Assistant Graphics Officer Elisabeth Lonnoy Tom Maycock Melinda Tignor Tim Waterfield Project Assistant Science Editor Head of WGII TSU IT Officer Working Group I Technical Support Unit Front cover layout: Nigel Hawtin Front cover artwork: Time to Choose by Alisa Singer - www.environmentalgraphiti.org - © Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The artwork was inspired by a graphic from the SPM (Figure SPM.1). © 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Revised on January 2019 by the IPCC, Switzerland. Electronic copies of this Summary for Policymakers are available from the IPCC website www.ipcc.ch ISBN 978-92-9169-151-7 Introduction Chapter 2 ChapterSummary 1 for Policymakers 6 Summary for Policymakers Summary for Policymakers SPM SPM Summary SPM for Policymakers Drafting Authors: Myles R.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change and Democratic Representation Can Select Committees Influence a Company’S Environmental, Social and Governance Credentials?
    Climate Change and Democratic Representation Can Select Committees influence a company’s environmental, social and governance credentials? Stanley Kwong 2 Executive Summary The House of Commons Select Committees (Committees) are a group of MPs from different political parties tasked with examining policy issues, holding the government and companies to account, and making proposals for new laws. An area where Committee assertiveness is particularly evident is in relation to topics concerning sustainability. This is in part driven by large scale environmental disasters that warranted Committee investigation. For example, inquiries concerning BP’s oil rig catastrophe (by the Energy and Climate Change Committee) and Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal (by the Environmental Audit Committee) drew widespread public and media interest. Public awareness on climate change issues has further elevated Committee work in this area, with a particular emphasis on scrutinising companies that hold poor sustainability practices that affect wider society. From an economic perspective this is typical of a negative externality, with Professor Stern (2008) calling global warming ‘the greatest market failure of all time’. However, the climate crisis may be more pronounced than a solely economic failure. In particular, it may also highlight fundamental deficiencies and systemic failures in the governance of liberal democracies. In this context, the emergence of mechanisms of deliberative democracy, such as the Climate Assembly UK, have grown in popularity as formats that aim to cultivate citizen representation and participation. Nevertheless, the public continue to look to elected representatives for action, particularly on the gap that remains on private sector company oversight. This is where the Committees’ distinctive investigative approach can be a key component in driving forward the climate dialogue, by adding a unique layer of public and investigative pressure on companies.
    [Show full text]
  • MCA Climate Action Plan
    13 51 6 Al Sb C Aluminium Solar cells Antimony Carbon 27 29 79 Co Cu Au Cobalt Copper Gold Batteries 26 3 25 Fe Li Mn Hydrogen Iron Lithium Manganese 12 28 41 Mg Ni Nb Magnesium CCUS Nickel Niobium 50 92 30 Sn U Zn Tin Uranium Zinc EV & hybrids Nuclear Mineral Wind Rare earth energy sands energy elements Copyright © 2020 Minerals Council of Australia CLIMATE ACTION PLAN PREAMBLE minerals.org.au Supporting ongoing climate action by Australia’s minerals industry The MCA and all of its Sustained climate action across all nations is 4. Accelerated development of the This 2020-2023 plan furthers the minerals well as taking a lead on commodity stewardship required to reduce the risks of human-induced minerals required for a low emissions sector’s public commitment to addressing looking at global procurement practices, circular members are taking serious climate change and to support world-wide future including aluminium, copper, nickel, climate change on an ongoing basis consistent economy, and traceability of commodities action on climate change decarbonisation as we transform to a lower zinc, iron, uranium, base metals, lithium, with the MCA’s climate statement. It outlines a through their lifecycle. emissions future. minerals sands, and rare earths series of actions focused on three key themes: and are committed to the Practical and cost-effective options are already Our sector improves the lives of millions of 5. Global and domestic partnerships 1. Support developing technology pathways to being developed and put into action across the Paris Agreement and its goal people in Australia and overseas through the with governments, regulators, customers, achieve significant reductions in Australia’s minerals value chain.
    [Show full text]
  • Department of Energy & Climate Change Short Guide
    A Short Guide to the Department of Energy & Climate Change July 2015 Overview Decarbonisation Ensuring security Affordability Legacy issues of supply | About this guide This Short Guide summarises what the | Contact details Department of Energy & Climate Change does, how much it costs, recent and planned changes and what to look out for across its main business areas and services. If you would like to know more about the NAO’s work on the DECC, please contact: Michael Kell Director, DECC VfM and environmental sustainability [email protected] 020 7798 7675 If you are interested in the NAO’s work and support The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending for Parliament and is independent of government. The Comptroller and Auditor General for Parliament more widely, please contact: (C&AG), Sir Amyas Morse KCB, is an Officer of the House of Commons and leads the NAO, which employs some 810 people. The C&AG Adrian Jenner certifies the accounts of all government departments and many other Director of Parliamentary Relations public sector bodies. He has statutory authority to examine and report [email protected] to Parliament on whether departments and the bodies they fund have used their resources efficiently, effectively, and with economy. Our 020 7798 7461 studies evaluate the value for money of public spending, nationally and locally. Our recommendations and reports on good practice For full iPad interactivity, please view this PDF help government improve public services, and our work led to Interactive in iBooks or GoodReader audited savings of £1.15 billion in 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 Page 1 Cambridge City Council Climate Change Strategy
    Cambridge City Council | Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 page 1 Cambridge City Council Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 Cambridge City Council | Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 page 2 Contents Executive Summary page 3 Introduction page 8 OBJECTIVE 1 Reducing carbon emissions from City Council buildings, land, vehicles and services page 22 OBJECTIVE 2 Reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions from homes and buildings in Cambridge page 31 OBJECTIVE 3 Reducing carbon emissions from transport in Cambridge page 38 OBJECTIVE 4 Reducing consumption of resources, reducing waste, and increasing recycling in Cambridge page 42 OBJECTIVE 5 Promoting sustainable food page 47 OBJECTIVE 6 Supporting Council services, residents and businesses to adapt to the impacts of climate change page 50 Glossary page 55 APPENDIX A Potential future reductions in City Council carbon emissions page 58 APPENDIX B Doughnut Economics model page 59 Cambridge City Council | Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 page 3 Executive Summary There is clear scientific evidence that our Leading local action on climate is changing as a direct result of human activity, and the impacts of climate change climate change are already being felt across the world. If the The Council is keen to play a community current rate of global heating continues, the leadership role on climate change issues effects for humanity and biodiversity will be including through taking action to reduce our catastrophic, and the window for taking action own emissions, which is where we have the to limit these effects is reducing rapidly. greatest degree of control and impact. Over The whole world will need to change what the past 6 years (from 2014/15 – 2019/20), it produces and consumes, and how, and emissions from our corporate buildings, fleet Cambridge City Council is conscious of the and business travel reduced by 28.9%.
    [Show full text]
  • D3.2 Context of 15 Case Studies: UK
    TRANSITIONS PATHWAYS AND RISK ANALYSIS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES D3.2 Context of 15 case studies: UK: Nuclear Power Project Coordinator: SPRU, Science Policy Research Unit, (UoS) University of Sussex Work Package 3 Leader Organisation: SPRU Contributing organisation: SPRU Contributing authors: Emily Cox, Jenny Lieu, Gordon Mackerron and Rocio Alvarez Tinoco November 2016 TRANSrisk Transitions pathways and risk analysis for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies GA#: 642260 Funding type: RIA Deliverable number D3.2 (relative in WP) D3.2 Context of 15 case studies Deliverable name: WP / WP number: 3 Delivery due date: November 2016 Actual date of submission: Dissemination level: Lead beneficiary: SPRU Responsible scientist/administrator: Jenny Lieu Estimated effort (PM): Emily Cox, Jenny Lieu, Gordon Mackerron and Rocio Alvarez Contributor(s): Tinoco Estimated effort contributor(s) 3 (PM): Internal reviewer: Richard Taylor (SEI) and Stefan Boessner (SEI) D.3.2 Context of Country Case Studies: UK Page ii Table of Contents 1 CASE STUDY: NUCLEAR POWER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ................................. 4 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 5 1.1.1 Research questions ..................................................................... 6 1.2 Introduction to the case study: UK energy context ................................... 7 1.2.1 Policy overview .......................................................................... 7 1.2.2
    [Show full text]
  • Ccc.Gsi.Gov.Uk
    Meeting Carbon Budgets - 2016 Progress Report to Parliament Committee on Climate Change Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 36(1) of the Climate Change Act 2008 June 2016 3 © Committee on Climate Change 2016 The text of this document (this excludes, where present, the Royal Arms and all departmental or agency logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Committee on Climate Change copyright and the document title specified. Where third party material has been identified, permission from the respective copyright holder must be sought. Any enquiries related to this publication should be sent to us at [email protected] This publication is available at https://www.theccc.org.uk/publications/ 4 Acknowledgements The Committee would like to thank: The team that prepared the analysis for this report. This was led by Matthew Bell, Adrian Gault and Mike Thompson and included: Owen Bellamy, Taro Hallworth, Mike Hemsley, Jenny Hill, Gemma Holmes, David Joffe, Ewa Kmietowicz, Eric Ling, Stephen Smith, Jack Snape, Indra Thillainathan, Helen Tsang, Ladislav Tvaruzek and Emma Vause. Other members of the Secretariat who contributed to this report: Jo Barrett, Yogini Patel, Penny Seera, Sean Taylor, Steve Westlake and Stephanie Wildeshaus. A number of organisations and stakeholders for their support, including the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, Carbon Trust, The Crown Estate, DECC, Defra, DfT, Patrick Dixon, Element Energy, the Energy Technologies Institute, Energy UK, the Environment Agency, the Forestry Commission, NextGreenCar.com, the Northern Ireland Executive, Salix Finance Ltd, the Scottish Government, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and the Welsh Government.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Document
    DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW A summary of the NAO’s work on the Department of Energy and Climate Change 2010-11 SEPTEMBER 2011 2 A summary of the NAO’s work on the Department of Energy and Climate Change 2010-11 Our vision is to help the nation spend wisely. We apply the unique perspective of public audit to help Parliament and government drive lasting improvement in public services. The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending on behalf of Parliament. The Comptroller and Auditor General, Amyas Morse, is an Officer of the House of Commons. He is the head of the NAO, which employs some 880 staff. He and the NAO are totally independent of government. He certifies the accounts of all government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies have used their resources. Our work led to savings and other efficiency gains worth more than £1 billion in 2010-11. Contents Introduction 4 Appendix One The Department’s sponsored bodies Part One at 1 April 2011 17 About the Department 5 Appendix Two Part Two Results of the Civil Service People Financial management 10 Survey 2010 18 Part Three Appendix Three Use of information 13 Publications by the NAO on the Department or its Part Four delivery bodies since 2008 20 Service delivery 16 Appendix Four Cross-government NAO reports of relevance to the Department since 2008-09 21 Appendix Five Other sources of information 22 4 Introduction A summary of the NAO’s work on the Department of Energy and Climate Change 2010-11 Introduction Aim and scope of this briefing The primary purpose of this Departmental Overview is to provide the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee with a summary of the work by the National Audit Office on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (the Department) since June 2010.
    [Show full text]