Written Statement: Interministerial Group on Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change, 17 October 2024

In accordance with the inter-institutional relations agreement, I can report to Members that I attended the Interministerial Group on Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change, on 17 October 2024 in hybrid format. The meeting was chaired by the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The meeting also was attended by Michael Shanks MP, Minister for Energy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Gillian Martin MSP, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy; Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Acting Minister for Climate Action; Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs; and Conor Murphy MLA, Minister for the Economy.

The meeting addressed three main topics: meeting our Net Zero ambitions; decarbonising the power sector – opportunities and challenges; and future collaboration and engagement. The meeting signalled a reset in relations between the UK and Devolved Governments, which was warmly welcomed.  We all expressed our strong desire for collaboration across the UK on this important agenda, and for the opportunity to show leadership internationally. 

In the discussion that followed, I emphasised the role of the UK Government in helping Wales meet our statutory climate targets, noting that 60% of Wales’s emissions come from sectors for which policies are reserved to the UK Government. I stressed the need for a CCUS shipping model and a Barnett consequential for rail funding. There was also a discussion around grid capacity, and I emphasised our appetite to make the most of the synergies between Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru and Great British Energy. I raised the importance of our local area energy planning and how communities that host new infrastructure can benefit.

Northern Ireland will chair the next meeting in Belfast.

The communiqué from the meeting has been published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interministerial-group-for-net-zero-energy-and-climate-change-communique-17-october-2024.