Britain to raise green targets and align energy policy with EU

A Cabinet Office memorandum says the UK would increase net zero targets and pursue 'dynamic alignment' with EU renewable rules, while ministers are negotiating re-entry to the EU internal electricity market.

The government plans to raise Britain's net zero targets and align parts of energy policy with EU rules, according to a Cabinet Office memorandum published earlier this month. The memo calls for 'dynamic alignment' with EU rules on the promotion of renewable energy. That would extend decarbonisation beyond electricity into heating and transport, and could require steeper national targets. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are negotiating re-entry to the EU internal electricity market. Key details: - The Cabinet Office memorandum says the UK would pursue "dynamic alignment" with EU rules on the promotion of renewable energy. - The memo indicates net zero targets may need to be doubled to meet those standards, and it mentions possible measures such as reduced meat consumption and restrictions on flying, wood fires and driving. - Ministers are in talks to rejoin the EU internal electricity market; the UK currently receives power from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Denmark and Norway via seven subsea cables. - The proposals would require the UK to comply with Brussels regulations in areas including food standards, animal welfare, pesticide use and electricity, and the UK would not have a vote on future EU laws made after Brexit. - The shadow energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, told The Telegraph that Labour's deal had already pushed up energy bills and imposed higher carbon taxes on businesses in a £5bn hit to the economy, a claim reported in the article. - A Government spokesman said exploratory talks made clear any overall target for renewable energy would be purely indicative, with no sector-specific targets, and added that closer cooperation on electricity could lower costs, strengthen energy security and drive North Sea investment. Summary: The proposals would deepen regulatory alignment with the EU around renewable energy and broaden decarbonisation expectations beyond electricity, prompting political debate across parties. A Bill to introduce a mechanism for dynamic alignment is expected to be introduced in the next few months and carried into the next parliamentary session.