We have a long term plan to make sure that families and businesses have the certainty that they need.

This is what Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Rt Hon Claire Coutinho, said at the Energy UK conference in London.

She said: ‘We have to ensure that our energy plans are viable. And that is what the Prime Minister’s net zero speech was about last month.

‘We are trying to set out a pragmatic approach to make sure that we can deliver effectively taking consumers and industry with us whilst we decarbonise.’

The minister noted that the UK has already decarbonised far more than any other country and will continue to do so but in a way that don’t exaggerate the cost of living crisis.

She said: ‘We have delivered the most decarbonisation of any major economy through careful planning and using the best of government in partnership with the innovation and enterprise of industry and the market.

‘Furthermore, we’ve set the most ambitious targets in the G7. When it comes to 2030, we’re hoping to reduce carbon emissions by 68%. That compares to the EU which is 55% and the US which is 40%.

‘But the truth is we can’t impose unaffordable extra costs on households, particularly at a time when millions of families are struggling with the cost of living. Instead, we need to bring consumers with us on the net zero journey.

‘I want people to feel nothing but unadulterated optimism when they think about what net zero means for them, the country and their children’s futures. We’re absolutely committed to those targets but we’re going to do that in a way that’s fair to family finances.’

Watch the video to see her full session.