The Government is expected to deliver a host of updates this week in a so-called ‘Green Day’, spanning an updated Net Zero Strategy alongside other measures, including the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

Green Day is expected to bring an update to the Net Zero Strategy and possible news on the ZEV mandate

Badged as Green Day by Whitehall insiders, it’s believed to bring an update to the Net Zero Strategy after the High Court ruled that the original strategy didn’t meet obligations under the Climate Change Act to include quantifiable data. The update was due within nine months and the end of this week is the cut-off for it.

The original Net Zero Strategy included a commitment to the ZEV mandate – and it’s expected that the Green Day announcements will include the draft regulations to implement the mandate for final consultation before they are made law later this year.

The day is also expected to bring a response to Net Zero Review. Published in January by former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore, the 340-page ‘Mission Zero’ report warned that the UK needs to adopt a “new approach” to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including swift work to implement the ZEV mandate and to cut public charge point VAT to drive EV adoption.

Green Day is also expected to bring other possible announcements around a Green Finance Strategy, Energy Security Strategy and other aspects of net zero policy. However, concerns are rising that it may be used to approve new oil and gas projects and postpone crucial decarbonisation policy decisions.

Hopes for a rival to the US Inflation Reduction Act and incentives for UK electric vehicle production may also be thwarted. That’s despite new research from Carline showing that more than seven out of 10 car dealers (71%) say that not enough is being done to support the UK motor industry’s transition to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.