From 1 October 2024 Great Britain will no longer use coal to generate electricity, a year earlier than planned, Energy and Climate Change Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced today (Wednesday 30 June 2021).

The move is part of ambitious government commitments to transition away from fossil fuels and decarbonise the power sector in order to eliminate contributions to climate change by 2050. Today’s announcement confirms the intention set out by the Prime Minister last year to bring forward the deadline to end unabated coal-fired electricity generation.

This brings forward the deadline to phase out coal from Great Britain’s energy system by a whole year, highlighting the UK’s leadership to go further and faster in driving down emissions and lead by example in tackling climate change ahead of hosting the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) summit in Glasgow this November. The UK is similarly calling on all nations to accelerate the phase out of coal power.

The UK government will introduce new legislation to do this at the earliest opportunity.

Coal is one of the most carbon intensive fossil fuels and responsible for harmful air pollution. By eliminating its use in electricity generation, the UK can make sure it plays a critical role in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees – a key aim of its COP26 presidency.

The UK has made huge progress in reducing the use of coal across the power sector, with coal accounting for only 1.8% of the UK’s electricity mix in 2020, compared with 40% almost decade ago.

The announcement comes ahead of Energy and Climate Change Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan speaking at the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) Europe Roundtable today on the importance of countries phasing out coal, and new members of the Alliance, as part of London Climate Action Week. The UK government has already ended its support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas earlier this year.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

Coal powered the industrial revolution 200 years ago, but now is the time for radical action to completely eliminate this dirty fuel from our energy system.

Today we’re sending a clear signal around the world that the UK is leading the way in consigning coal power to the history books and that we’re serious about decarbonising our power system so we can meet our ambitious, world-leading climate targets.

The UK’s net zero future will be powered by renewables, and it is this technology that will drive the green industrial revolution and create new jobs across the country.

The UK went 5,000 hours without coal-fired electricity in 2020, and earlier this year broke a new wind power record, with just over a third of the country’s energy coming from wind. The rise in the use of renewables thanks to competition, free enterprise and government incentives to kick start new technologies has in turn helped to drive down the cost of green energy, with coal power now more expensive in most countries.

As one of the first countries to commit to ending coal power combined with its significant success in driving up renewables, the UK is leading the world in moving away from fossil fuels and significantly decarbonising its energy system.

Through its COP26 presidency, the UK government is urging nations to follow its example and abandon coal power for good. In May, under the UK’s leadership, G7 Climate and Environment Ministers agreed to end all new finance for coal power by the end of 2021 and to accelerate the transition away from unabated coal capacity and to an overwhelmingly decarbonised power system in the 2030s.

COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma, said:

The next decade will be make, or break, for our planet and the most powerful way we can make a difference is to end our reliance on coal.

Ahead of COP26, I hope the UK’s decisive step towards a cleaner, greener future sends a clear signal to friends around the world that clean power is the way forward. The impact of this step will be far greater if we can bring the world with us, and so our desire to support a clean and just energy transition is central to my discussions on the road to COP26.

A top priority of the UK COP26 Presidency is to accelerate the global transition from coal to clean energy. The UK government is asking governments to set coal phase out dates and end overseas coal investments, and has set up the Energy Transition Council to bring together partners to ensure that clean power is the most attractive option for developing countries and to support just transitions.

• read the Impact Assessment published alongside the government’s consultation on bringing forward the date to end coal generated electricity. The assessment examined potential indirect impacts on coal mines from the phasing out of coal for electricity generation. The analysis indicated that setting a closure date of either 2025 or 2024 is unlikely to have a significant impact on the UK coal mining sector. This is predominantly due to the fact that coal mining in the UK has already been in decline in recent years, reflecting a competitive global market and falling domestic demand
• on 18 September 2017, following a consultation in November 2016, the government confirmed that it would proceed with action to regulate the closure of unabated coal power generation units in Great Britain by 1 October 2025
• on 4 February 2020, the Prime Minister announced an intention to bring forward the deadline for phasing out unabated coal generation to 1 October 2024. The government ran a consultation from 14 December 2020 to 26 February 2021 seeking views on proposals to achieve this objective
• for the first time ever, in March this year coal-fired power plants did not participate in the four-year ahead Capacity Market auction, which secures the electricity capacity Great Britain needs to cope with peaks in demand in 2024 to 2025 at a low cost to consumers. Going forward, coal power plants will not be able participate in any future Capacity Market auctions due to the introduction of Emissions Limits to the Capacity Market
• this policy only applies to coal used to generate electricity. It does not apply to other coal consumers such as the steel industry, nor to domestic coal mines
• in 2020, the UK generated 43.1% of its electricity from renewable sources, including wind (24.2%), bioenergy (12.6%), solar (4.2%), and hydro (2.2%). Coal only consisted of 1.8 % of the year’s electricity generation, and nuclear generation made up a further 16.1%
• in 2012, coal accounted for 40% of the UK’s power generation, dropping dramatically to only 1.8% in 2020. Ending unabated coal generation in 2024 will mean that we will have reduced it from almost a third of our electricity supply to zero in the space of just 10 years.

The UK is accelerating towards a more inclusive, reliable electric vehicle (EV) charging network, as the government and charity sector come together to set accessibility standards, Transport Minister Rachel Maclean has announced today (30 June 2021).

In partnership with national disability charity Motability, the Department for Transport (DfT) has commissioned the British Standards Institute (BSI) to develop accessibility standards for EV chargepoints across the country. These standards will provide industry with guidance and drivers with a new clear definition of ‘fully accessible’, ‘partially accessible’ and ‘not accessible’ public EV chargepoints.

The design of public chargepoints is already carefully considered by operators. However, consistent standards are crucial for drivers to easily identify which chargepoints are suitable for their needs. This could range from adequate space between bollards, charging units being of a height suitable for wheelchair users, size of the parking bay and the kerb height.

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said:

With sales of EVs increasing and the government’s net zero ambitions accelerating, I want to make it as easy as possible for EV drivers to charge up their vehicles at public chargepoints right across the UK, regardless of their mobility.

We are taking action to provide accessibility guidance to both operators and drivers to make sure that the transition to zero-emission driving will benefit everyone in society as we build back better.

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson said:

As we build back greener, this government is ensuring disabled people are at the heart of our plans.

As electric vehicles become more popular it is imperative that disabled people have the same opportunities to access them as everyone else. The new accessibility standards for chargepoints will help make this a reality.

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), Motability and BSI will be working with industry stakeholders including EV chargepoint operators, disability charities and innovators to ensure that the consumer can find the right chargepoints for their needs.

Barry Le Grys MBE, Chief Executive Officer at Motability, said:

There is a risk that disabled people are left behind as the UK’s transition to electric vehicles approaches and Motability wants to ensure that this does not happen. We welcome the interest from government in our research on electric vehicle charging and accessibility and we are excited about our partnership with the Office of Zero Emissions Vehicles to further this work.

We look forward to working together to create world-leading accessibility standards and to support the UK’s commitment to achieving zero emissions. Motability looks forward to a future where electric vehicle charging is inclusive for all.

Motability is also working with Designability, a charity that creates products to enable disabled people to live with greater independence, to engage with disabled drivers and identify their requirements for accessible charging.

Catharine Brown Chief Executive at Designability said:

Accessible electric vehicle charging is an exciting area of innovation for government, industry and the charity sector. Designability welcomes this important drive towards standards that will make sure the needs of disabled people are taken into account as this new technology becomes mainstream.

We are delighted to be working with Motability to create cutting-edge design solutions. Our expertise in working with disabled people makes us perfectly placed to find solutions to these everyday challenges – which will only increase as more people want to drive electric cars.

To date over 1,000 disabled drivers have volunteered to feedback to Motability and Designability on how we can make electric vehicle charging accessible for all.

Matthew Campbell-Hill, a former Team GB wheelchair athlete and member of the Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England, said:

As an EV owner and motor vehicle enthusiast who knows how transformative inclusive infrastructure can be, I’m excited to learn of this cross-sector partnership between charity and government.

I’ve experienced first-hand just how challenging it can be to use a chargepoint that hasn’t been built with disabled people in mind, and this work will ensure electric vehicle charging is accessible for all. I can’t wait to see innovation and change in this space.

To ensure all interested stakeholders have the opportunity to come together and inform the standards, Motability will be holding a series of workshops on accessibility and electric vehicle charging in August.

If you are a charity working with disabled people or people with long-term health conditions and would like to know more about participating, contact innovation@motability.co.uk.

Businesses across the UK will be able to benefit from financial support thanks to a new subsidy control system following our departure from the EU.

The Subsidy Control Bill introduced to Parliament today seizes the opportunities from having left the EU’s bureaucratic State aid regime to create a new system for subsidies that can enable key domestic priorities, such as levelling up economic growth across the UK and driving our green industrial revolution.

Previously, when the UK was a member of the EU, the UK followed the EU’s State aid regime which governed the awarding of subsidies – such as grants, loans and guarantees. Under the EU system, all subsidies except those under a ‘Block Exemption Regulation’ had to undergo a lengthy bureaucratic process of being notified to and approved by the European Commission in advance, delaying vital funds from reaching viable businesses in good time.

The new UK system will start from the basis that subsidies are permitted if they follow UK-wide principles – delivering good value for the British taxpayer while being awarded in a timely and effective way. These UK-wide principles will allow public authorities to deliver subsidies where they are needed without facing excessive red tape.

The system will not be a return to the failed 1970s approach of government trying to run the economy, ‘picking winners’ or bailing out unsustainable companies.

The devolved governments will be empowered for the first time to decide if they can issue subsidies by following a set of UK-wide principles. Previously, the devolved administrations were subject to the EU’s prescriptive State aid regime which governed the powers of elected governments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast to support viable businesses.

The new system will prohibit the awarding of subsidies that will result in the relocation of jobs and economic activity from one part of the UK to another – known as ‘displacement’. This will help strengthen the Union and help level up the entire country by preventing ‘subsidy races’ between public authorities competing to attract the same business.

For example, it will ensure that a Welsh firm is not unfairly undercut or disadvantaged by a subsidy decision in England, and vice-versa. It will also mean that big companies cannot play off the regions, nations, towns, and cities of the UK against each other in a competition to benefit from taxpayer subsidy – protecting the dynamic and competitive free market economy that has been central to our national prosperity for decades.

UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

Today we’re seizing the opportunities of being an independent trading nation to back new and emerging British industries, create more jobs and make the UK the best possible place to start and grow a business.

We want to use our newfound freedoms as an independent, sovereign country to empower public authorities across the UK to deliver financial support – without facing burdensome red tape.

While the UK’s new system will be more agile and flexible, I have been clear that we will not return to the failed 1970s approach of the government trying to run the economy, picking winners or bailing out unsustainable companies. Every subsidy must deliver strong benefits for local communities and ensure good value for money for the British taxpayer.

Today’s Bill marks a clear departure from the EU State aid regime and will ensure our new subsidy system will maintain the UK’s competitive, free market economy that has been central to our economic success and national prosperity for decades.

The British taxpayer and the UK’s competitive, free market economy will be further protected by banning unlimited government guarantees to businesses as well as subsidies granted to “ailing or insolvent” enterprises where there is no credible restructuring plan, although we are no longer bound by restrictive EU definitions which unfairly penalised start-ups and small businesses.

Under the new regime, enforcement will be through the UK’s courts and tribunal system. Jurisdiction to judicially review the award of subsidies will be given to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).

UK Business Minister Paul Scully said:

The UK’s new bespoke subsidy system will be simple, nimble, and based on common-sense principles – free from excessive red tape.

Our modern regime will support the UK government, devolved administrations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, and local authorities in swiftly and strategically supporting our economic recovery while ensuring a consistent, level playing field for subsidies across the entire country.

In order to protect UK competition and investment and to minimise distortions from specific subsidies, the new system will introduce two specific categories of subsidies – Subsidies of Interest and Subsidies of Particular Interest – for which granting authorities may undertake more extensive analysis to assess their compliance with the principles.

The new regime will contribute to meeting the UK’s international commitments on subsidy control, including following the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules in this area, and those in free trade agreements (FTAs) – upholding our place on the international stage.

The Subsidy Control Bill sets out key elements of the new domestic subsidy control regime in primary legislation. Further details on implementation and guidance will be set out in due course. The regime will come into effect in 2022 subject to Parliamentary approval.

The UK government has always been clear that the regulation of subsidy control is a reserved matter. The UK Internal Market Act (UKIM) 2020 clarifies that the UK Parliament alone should legislate for the regulation of subsidies. The UKIM Act also helps to ensure that there is no confusion or ambiguity in law about the interpretation of the State aid elements in the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Today’s announcement follows a consultation earlier this year in which the UK government sought views from businesses, public authorities, including the devolved governments, and others on the future shape of the new subsidy control system. The response to this consultation has been published today.

A subsidy is a financial contribution using public resources which confers a benefit on a specific recipient. This could include, for example, a cash payment, a loan with interest below the market rate, or a guarantee. Subsidies are administered by all levels of government in the UK.

Since 1 January 2021, the UK has followed the commitments on subsidy control set out in its free trade agreements with other countries, notably the provisions of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), and the WTO rules on subsidies, as well as the relevant provisions within the Northern Ireland Protocol. How to implement our international commitments in UK law is a domestic decision and the new subsidy control system announced today builds on, and is aligned with, these commitments.

The new Subsidy Advice Unit will be set up within the Competition and Markets Authority.

To further streamline the new system, the government is exempting a limited set of subsidies from the control principles, such those required for safeguarding national security and subsidies granted temporarily to address emergencies such as flooding. As is the case now, all subsidies will still be subject to WTO rules.

To ensure this new system works for all parts of the UK, the UK government has worked closely with the devolved administrations throughout this process, including sharing the consultation response document ahead of publication and considering devolved administrations’ representations.

• Chris Boardman MBE appointed for four year term
• Dame Katherine Grainger DBE also reappointed as Chair of UK Sport
• Appointments place two sporting greats with vast experience of sports governance at the heart of the two bodies responsible for the development of grassroots and elite sport

The news will see Boardman carry out a four year term from 22 July 2021 to 21 July 2025. He takes over from Nick Bitel who has held the post of Chair since 2013, and will play a critical role in supporting and developing grassroots sport and physical activity and getting more people active across the country as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. He will also play a key role in supporting Sport England to deliver on its ambitious 10-year strategy, Uniting the Movement, published earlier this year.

Meanwhile Dame Katherine’s reappointment, which comes weeks ahead of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, will see her carry out an additional four year term at the public body responsible for elite sport from 1 July 2021. She will continue to provide strategic direction to the organisation as it embarks on delivering its new Strategic Plan to create the greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments; reaching, inspiring and uniting the nation. As Chair, she will also consider and make decisions on recommendations put forward by UK Sport’s various panels.

Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:

As we head into a major summer of sport with fans finally returning, the Euros, the Toyko Games, and the Rugby League World Cups to name a few, I am thrilled that we now have two Olympic heroes in Chris and Dame Katherine steering the growth of grassroots and professional sport in this country.

I will be working closely with them as we place sport and physical activity at the heart of our recovery plan to build back better and fitter from this pandemic.

Chris Boardman MBE said:

I am delighted to take up the position of Chair for Sport England. Sport and activity are central to my own life and it’s clear they have a heightened importance for all of us right now. I am looking forward to helping the team bring opportunities to be active to more people than ever before.

Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, UK Sport Chair, said:

I am absolutely thrilled to be reappointed as Chair of UK Sport. I consider it a huge honour to be in this role, especially at an extremely exciting time for Olympic and Paralympic sport in the UK with the Tokyo Summer Games about to start and the Beijing Winter Games just around the corner.

Working with CEO Sally Munday and the team at UK Sport, as well as our wider high-performance community of athletes, coaches and staff, has been a real pleasure. As an athlete I experienced the wonderful influence and impact sport can have, and so I am very motivated to continue playing a role in enabling extraordinary moments that enrich lives.

When I was first appointed Chair back in 2017, I was very aware of challenges we faced as a high-performance community and those are challenges I have relished tackling. Having launched our new strategic plan earlier this year, I am determined to do everything I can to help UK Sport fulfil its ambitious mission.

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of Sport England, said:

With his background as a successful athlete and his incredible work in transforming attitudes to cycling and activity in our communities, Chris is a fantastic appointment as Chair of Sport England and we’re really looking forward to working with him. As we begin to deliver on our ambitious 10 year strategy ‘Uniting the Movement’, I have no doubt that Chris will play a significant leadership role and play a crucial part in our work to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity.

Chris is building on the fantastic eight years of his predecessor and I am so grateful to Nick for his counsel, support, experience and wisdom during my three years as CEO and for everything he has done to ensure Sport England is in the best possible shape to thrive in the years to come. He has been a brilliant Chair and we have been lucky to have him.

Sally Munday, Chief Executive of UK Sport, said:

Katherine has had a hugely positive impact on the UK high performance community during her first term as UK Sport Chair.

She has been instrumental in shaping our new 10 year Strategic Plan and I’m delighted she will be Chairing the organisation as we set about implementing that new strategy. She is an outstanding leader, an inclusive chair-person and drawing on her experiences as one of Britain’s most successful Olympic athletes, her ability to navigate and lead through significant change and challenge is without question.

I’ve seen first-hand her passion, energy and determination for continuous improvement and that’s why I’m so excited about what UK Sport and the wider Olympic and Paralympic high performance community can achieve over the coming decade. Our mission to create the greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments; reaching, inspiring and uniting the nation is something I know is very close to Katherine’s heart and a big driver for her wanting to undertake a second term.

I’d also like to thank Katherine for the support she’s offered me over my 18 months as CEO and look forward to what we can achieve as an organisation during what I’m certain will be an extremely exciting period for Olympic and Paralympic sport in this country.

The Chair of Sport England is remunerated at a rate of £40,000 per annum and the UK Sport Chair is remunerated at £60,000 per annum. This appointment and reappointment have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Sport England and UK Sport are executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
• The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Chris Boardman and Katherine Grainger have declared no such political activity.

Chris Boardman MBE biography

Chris Boardman has a decorated sporting history in cycling. He won a gold medal in the individual pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, broke the world hour record three times and has worn the yellow jersey on three separate occasions at the Tour de France.

Following his sporting career, he became Head of Research and Development for the Great Britain Cycling Team from 2004 to 2012, including at the 2008 Beijing Games where the Olympic team won eight gold medals. Outside of sport he is one of the UK’s most prominent cycling and walking advocates and has been policy adviser to British Cycling since 2012.

Over the past four years, Boardman has been working with the Mayor of Greater Manchester on the creation of a plan to create the largest cycling and walking network in the country. The delivery of the region-spanning 1800 mile, 1.5 billion pound ‘Bee Network’ is now well underway. He is currently performing an expanded role as Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester where he is helping the Mayor deliver a fully integrated transport system with active travel as its foundation, to reduce car dependency and improve health.

Dame Katherine Grainger DBE biography

Dame Katherine Grainger is Britain’s most decorated female Olympic athlete and the first British woman to win medals at five successive Olympic Games. These include a memorable gold medal at London 2012, which followed silver medals at Sydney, Athens and Beijing. Following a two-year break from the GB Rowing Squad, Katherine returned to the team at the end of 2014. The move resulted in success when Katherine’s silver medal at Rio 2016 gave her the record breaking fifth medal from five Olympics.

In 2016, her fellow Olympians voted her Britain’s first Olympians’ Olympian. On retiring from rowing, Katherine was awarded the world of rowing’s most prestigious prize, the Thomas Keller Medal, for an Outstanding Career in Rowing. She is the Honorary President of the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association.

Katherine was born and educated in Scotland, graduating in law from Edinburgh University. She went on to achieve an MPhil in Medical Law and Medical Ethics from Glasgow University. In May 2013, she completed a PhD in the sentencing of homicide at King’s College, University of London. She is a Fellow of King’s College and a Regent of Edinburgh University and has received honorary doctorates from nine universities.

From 2015-2020 Katherine was Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University and in June 2020, became Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. For services to rowing, Katherine was awarded an MBE in 2006 and a CBE in 2013. She serves as an ambassador, patron or board member of various charities and sporting bodies and this was recognised when, to round off an exceptional 20 year career in sport, she became Dame Katherine Grainger in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List for services to sport and charity.

Thank you, Mr President. Thank you to Mr Leqoc for your briefing, and welcome to the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The role of the High Representative is vital, and has the UK’s full support. The 5+2 objectives and conditions for closure of the office have not been met. These objectives and conditions were agreed by all Peace Implementation Council Steering Board members, and are recognised by the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities, and supported repeatedly by the Security Council, most recently in resolution 2549 adopted unanimously in November last year.

The absence of a High Representative at this stage would encourage further instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emboldening actors who wish to perpetuate divisions and slowing implementation of much needed reforms. This would have a negative impact on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region and would hinder continued implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The Security Council should retain its focus on achieving sustainable peace and security, and supporting the Office of the High Representative until the aforementioned conditions for closing the Office have been met.

As stated in Dr Inzko’s letter to the Secretary-General dated 3 June, subsequently circulated to Security Council members on 24 June, Mr Christian Schmidt has already been appointed by the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board as the new High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He will take up his duties on 1 August.

As a member of the Steering Board, we attended the meeting on 27 May, where he was appointed. The appointment was supported by all members of the Steering Board, except for Russia. Decisions of the Steering Board do not require unanimity. On the basis that there was “sufficient political support” in the Steering Board for Mr Schmidt, it was announced on 27 May that it had formally appointed him as the new High Representative. Legal advisers in the Office of the High Representative have confirmed this is the correct procedure.

It is not the case that the endorsement of the Security Council is required in order to finalise the appointment of Mr Schmidt. Pursuant to Annex 10 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace and Peace Implementation Conference Conclusions – specifically the 1996 Peace Implementation Conference Conclusions which state, “in the event of a vacancy, following consultation with members of the PIC, the Steering Board will designate a High Representative” – the decision on the appointment of a new High Representative sits with the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board. There is no determinative role for the UN Secretary-General or the UN Security Council in the appointment process, and no legal requirement that the UN Security Council take action to confirm Mr Schmidt’s designation. He will take up his duties as High Representative on 1 August, whether this Council welcomes the appointment, as it has done in the past via a resolution or exchange of letters, or not.

Thank you, Mr President.