Julie James, Minister for Climate Change
In accordance with the inter-institutional relations agreement, I can report to Members that I attended and chaired the latest meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Inter-ministerial Group on 17 January 2022, which was focused on a discussion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS).
The meeting was attended by Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Edwin Poots MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, and Lucy Frazer MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
As the UK ETS Authority we discussed the trigging of the UK ETS Cost Containment Mechanism (CCM) at the start of January. The joint statement by the UK ETS Authority – made up of HMG, the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive – on the scheme’s Cost Containment Mechanism (CCM) is available through the link below:
UK ETS Authority Statement: Cost Containment Mechanism decision – January 2022
We also discussed the forthcoming consultation on proposals to develop the UK ETS. I was pleased to hear that progress was being made by officials from HMG, the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive and I emphasised the need to consult as early as possible.