Former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore today published his independent Net Zero Review calling for the UK to go ‘further and faster’ on climate change.

Recommendations include a new home boiler ban by 2025, a 10-year mission to make use of heat pumps commonplace and setting out an infrastructure strategy by 2025 supporting the building and adaptation of infrastructure for electricity, hydrogen, other liquid and gaseous fuels and CO2 networks that support the green economy.

Skidmore was commissioned to lead his rapid review of the government’s approach to delivering its net zero target by former Business and Energy secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg last September in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Main recommendations in his Mission Zero review include:

• Backing business to go green – these include reviewing incentives for investment in decarbonisation, including via the tax system, and launching a Help to Grow Green campaign offering information and advice to small businesses so they can plan ahead;
• Backing local action – these include reforming the planning system to put net zero at its heart nationally and locally, and backing at least one Trailblazer Net Zero City, Local Authority and Community that can work towards reaching net zero by 2030;
• Delivering energy efficient homes – including legislating for the Future Homes Standard so that no new homes will be built with a gas boiler from 2025, adopting a 10-year mission to make heat pumps a widespread technology in the UK
• Using infrastructure to unlock net zero – including developing a cross-sectoral infrastructure strategy by 2025 to support the building and adaptation for new green energy sources such as hydrogen to support the green economy

Official statistics show there are already around 400,000 jobs in low-carbon businesses and their supply chains across the UK, with turnover estimated at £41.2 billion in 2020.

Skidmore said: “We lead in areas including clean technologies, science, manufacturing and green finance – areas that, if managed right, can lead to new jobs and strong economic growth.

“In developing this report, we have engaged with communities, economists and climate experts from across the country through more than 50 roundtables and 1800 submissions – all of which have led to the Mission Zero findings.

“My recommendations are designed to make the most of this historic opportunity, covering the length and breadth of our economy, so that people in every part of the country can reap the benefits of this both in their communities, and in their pockets.”