UK ‘must act now on renewable energy or risk being left behind’

Government needs to introduce new ambitious energy policies before next general election, advisers say

Ministers must take control of the UK's energy system, removing the barriers to planning permission and problems with the national electricity grid, to build the windfarms and other renewable power needed to meet net-zero goals, government advisers have warned.

Chris Stark, chief executive of the committee on climate change, the statutory adviser, said the task was too urgent to wait until after a general election, expected within the next 18 months. It would be an enormous mistake to wait until the next general election to introduce new ambitious policy," he said.