As Brexit swallows everything before it, and the government struggles to deliver on any new policy ideas, will the UK’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions suffer?
In October last year, the UK government confirmed its commitment to cut down its carbon footprint by publishing an ambitious Clean Growth Strategy. This outlined a blueprint for Britain’s low carbon future, whilst keeping costs down for consumers and growing the economy through the creation of jobs.
At the time, Greg Clarke, the Business and Energy Secretary said the government “has put clean growth at the heart of its Industrial Strategy to increase productivity, boost people’s earning power and ensure Britain continues to lead the world in efforts to tackle climate change.”
Climate Change and Industry Minister Claire Perry added: “The impact of the Paris agreement and the unstoppable global shift towards low carbon technologies gives the UK an unparalleled opportunity.
“By focusing on Clean Growth, we can cut the cost of energy, drive economic prosperity, create high value jobs and improve our quality of life.”
The strategy included a series of policy ideas for the public and business, that the government argue will ensure that Britain will meet its commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels.
Highlights included a ban on the manufacture of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040, a £1bn fund to support the take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV), and a pledge to upgrade thousands of homes to at least Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2035.
The strategy also outlined plans to promote energy productivity within businesses and drive down usage by 20% by 2030, to establish an Industrial Energy Efficiency scheme that will help large companies with measures to cut their bills and energy use, and to demonstrate international leadership in carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS), by investing up to £100m in new technologies and collaborating with global partners.
The strategy was hailed by the government as proof they were committed to a greener future, but critics were quick to question the financial commitments after £100m of public money was wasted when the government decided to scrap its previous £1bn plan to support carbon capture with plans for Peterhead power station and the White Rose scheme in North Yorkshire.
Environmentalists labelled the strategy “disappointing” and “insufficient”, arguing that it was light on details about implementation and how the plan would help the UK meet its commitments to reduce CO2 emissions and limit global warming under the Paris agreement.
In January, a report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) warned the Government’s plan did not go far enough to meet its own targets and called for more firm policies and action.
CCC Chairman, Lord Deben, said: “As it stands, the Strategy does not deliver enough action to meet the UK’s emissions targets in the 2020s and 2030s. The Government’s policies and proposals will need to be firmed up as a matter of urgency – and supplemented with additional measures – if the UK is to deliver on its legal commitments and secure its position as an international climate change leader.”
As budgets get squeezed as the UK begins its exit from the European Union, the government needs to be held to the ambitious agenda it set out in the Clean Growth Strategy. A successful global Britain is one that leads the world in green technology and government investment is key to delivering that future.
