The Government could consider introducing strict lifestyle changes ahead of the upcoming carbon budget, a source close to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has revealed.
The proposed measures could include an increase in taxes for British holidaymakers as Keir Starmer seeks to hit legally binding 5-year targets.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) who advises the Government on climate change emissions, is due to present their findings to the Secretary of State on February 26 – with recommendations that could have a major impact on freedoms and lifestyle.
A source close to the Energy Security and Net Zero committee told GB News: “Emma Pinchbeck, chair of the Climate Change Committee, has said that people won’t have to change their lives radically, but this raises doubt over what lifestyle changes Pinchbeck and the Government will be pushing in their pursuit of net-zero ideology.”
The Government could consider introducing strict lifestyle changes ahead of the upcoming carbon budget, a source close to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has revealed
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According to the source: “Many are concerned that this could include additional taxes on flights to discourage air travel.”
When the Climate Change Committee last reported to Parliament in July 2024, it said that the UK needed to ‘ramp up its efforts’ to hit its 2030 target, as almost all indicators show the country is currently off track.
The committee also made ten recommendations to parliament which included ramping up tree planting and remove planning barriers for onshore wind farms. The Government allocated almost £7,000,000 to this organisation, in order to provide these recommendations.
Former Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps, said: “Emma Pinchbeck says the public won’t have to ‘radically’ change their lives-yet Ed Miliband’s answer to everything is bans, restrictions, and higher taxes.”
The former Welwyn Hatfield MP added: “Taxing people off planes is just another example of Labour’s anti-growth mentality. When I was Energy Security Secretary, I made it clear: Britain must cut emissions without wrecking our economy.”
The Government announced in October 2024 that air passenger duty will increase for economy class flights, rising by up to two pounds per flight.
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The new charges are due to come into force on April 1, 2026. However, this could change if new recommendations are made to increase taxes further, once the Climate Change Committee have delivered their advice to the Government for the seventh carbon budget.
Shapps warned: “The real solution is technology-sustainable fuels, electric flight, and innovation-not punishing working people for wanting to travel.
“Labour wants to control your life. We believe in making it better.”
It comes as businesses are facing extra pressures on finances with employer national insurance contributions set to increase, while consumers are facing increased cost-of-living pressures with energy bills, food and fuel costs all set to rise.
Angela Knight CBE, former Chief Executive of Energy UK, said: “A substantial flight tax is very likely. The intention is for planes to use and increasing amount of sustainable aviation fuel but like everything else in the net zero jigsaw, it’s expensive.
Former Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps, said: ‘Emma Pinchbeck says the public won’t have to ‘radically’ change their lives-yet Ed Miliband’s answer to everything is bans, restrictions, and higher taxes’
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“And inevitably on top of that, will be an increase in taxation to deter people from flying. The impact will not be so much on business but on families and their summer holiday.”
According to a 2023 report published by the Children’s Commissioner 89 per cent of children enjoyed all or part of their summer holidays, with 89 per cent also enjoying quality time with parents – something critics would argue impacts family life.
A Government spokesperson said: “We will reach net zero in a way that treads lightly on people’s lives – not telling them how to live or behave.
“Instead, we are focused on bringing people with us as we deliver our mission to become a clean energy superpower, making our country energy secure, protecting consumers, creating jobs, and tackling the climate crisis.”
In a recent committee session, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, Emma Pinchbeck said: “The immediate priority will be delivering our advice to the Government on the Seventh Carbon Budget, covering the period in the late 2030s and early 2040s.”
“We will be doing that at the end of February, and then parliamentarians will be able to scrutinise and debate that as it goes forward, hopefully into legislation.”
