Committee publication · Correspondence · 23 June 2026 · HC 25
Letter from the Minister of Climate relating to The Seventh Carbon Budget, 22 June
From: Environmental Audit Committee
Inquiry: The Seventh Carbon Budget
Summary
Minister for Climate Katie White responds to the Environmental Audit Committee's 15 June discussion on the Seventh Carbon Budget, clarifying three key government positions: the timeline for responding to the Independent Review on Greenhouse Gas Removals and publishing the carbon budget delivery plan; the UK's intention to account for ICAO CORSIA aviation credits under specified conditions; and progress on community benefits and shared ownership in low carbon energy infrastructure, including a £1 billion Great British Energy commitment.
Key findings
- Government will respond to Lord Whitehead's Greenhouse Gas Removals review this summer, with the carbon budget delivery plan published as soon as reasonably practicable after Parliament legislates the Seventh Carbon Budget level.
- UK intends to meet climate targets through domestic action, with the exception of accounting for ICAO CORSIA credits for international aviation and shipping where credits meet high integrity principles and are sourced from Paris Agreement-aligned countries.
- Government received wide-ranging public submissions on community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure (21 May–16 July 2025) and is reviewing responses to publish next steps.
- Local Power Plan (February 2026) commits up to £1 billion through Great British Energy to support over 1,000 local and community energy projects, targeting 8GW of locally and community-owned generation by 2030.
- Government committed to consulting this year on mandatory shared ownership proposals in renewable energy generation facilities under The Infrastructure Act 2015 powers.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Katie White OBE MP, Toby Perkins MP, Lord Whitehead, Climate Change Committee, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Environmental Audit Committee, Great British Energy, ICAO
Notable line
“The government follows this advice and, as specified in the CBGDP, we will only account for CORSIA credits where we are satisfied that they meet high integrity principles and are sourced from …”
Key Quotes
“Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) will be important to meeting the Seventh Carbon Budget and net zero, balancing residual emissions from hard-to- abate sectors while providing new economic opportunities.”
“Given the global nature of the aviation sector, international action on its climate impacts is essential. The UK takes a leading role in negotiating for ambitious global action to tackle international aviation emissions, including CORSIA.”
“The government has been clear that communities are providing a vital service to the country when they host this infrastructure in the national interest.”
“This work sits alongside the Local Power Plan, published in February 2026, which commits up to £1 billion through Great British Energy to support over 1,000 local and community energy projects, with a target of 8GW of locally and community-owned generation by”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗