With Rishi Sunak taking on his new role as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, Amy House, Director of Green Economy, explores the climate policies most needed, to deliver net zero.
At Green Economy, we are acutely aware that the uptake of green technologies and services is impacted far more by policy than supply and demand. Here are some of the policies we think would make an impact to improve roll out of green technologies and deliver those net zero targets.
Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings
Expanding the existing energy company obligation to make homes more efficient would be a huge win in reducing emissions and helping people this winter. Latest estimates suggest around 13 per cent of households in England are in fuel poverty, 25 per cent in Scotland, 12 per cent in Wales and 18 per cent in Northern Ireland. These statistics will only increase as the cost of living crisis continues, and energy supply chains see continued turbulence. The current energy company obligation (ECO) scheme places a requirement on energy suppliers to install energy efficiency and heating measures on UK households, recuperating costs through energy bills. Around 2.4 million homes have received energy efficiency upgrades through the scheme as of February 2022.
However, cost and a lack of confidence remain major barriers to the uptake of green building technology. As more households enter fuel poverty and struggle to pay their bills, government energy efficiency support schemes and subsidies are needed to encourage the uptake of green building technologies; the average consumer is unlikely to prioritise this otherwise. At Green Economy, we’re here to advocate for this technology – helping to demystify the tech and provide consumers and businesses with the confidence to invest.
Level up to deliver net zero
The UK government had their net zero strategy contested back in August after it was discovered that their policy ideas had no real evidence as to how effective they’d be in practice, and many of their decarbonisation plans were reliant on technologies that are yet to exist. The UK government must now redraft their net zero strategy by March 2023 with evidence as to how it will work.
Devolution presents a huge opportunity if the UK is to meet its 2050 net zero targets. By devolving action to local authorities, mayoral city regions, and local councils, each region can exercise powers over their transport, housing, business partnerships, and natural environment. Levelling up on environmental goals won’t be possible if sufficient control isn’t handed over to local authorities. Greater Manchester, for example, have a more ambitious 2038 net zero target than the UK as a whole; the ability of these authorities to instigate policy across their regions is essential for net zero. At Green Economy, we’ve provided Greater Manchester with a sector mapping report which found it has the largest green technologies and services supply chain outside of London. This local investment has paid dividends in supporting the entrepreneurs and innovators we need to deliver net zero.
Regulate offsetting
Carbon offsetting has its place, but climate policies that encourage the direct reduction and avoidance of carbon emissions need to be prioritised above those that encourage carbon capture and offsetting tactics. As long as there’s no real incentive to cut emissions and uptake low or no emission technologies, net zero targets will continue to lag.
Nature-based solutions to man-made problems
The government is required to set at least one long term target across air quality, biodiversity, resource efficiency, water, and waste reduction. Currently, MPs are recommending the restoration of 30 per cent of the UK’s saltmarshes and seagrass meadows as part of a climate strategy. Recent studies have revealed the UK has lost over 90 per cent of seagrass meadows, a devastating decline which has had a detrimental impact on the nation’s biodiversity. Industry-wide pollution, farming, land and coastal developments have all contributed to this decline.
Seagrass, if left to its own devices, is low maintenance and an effective, natural means of permanent carbon storage. Policy designed to protect the few saltmarsh areas that remain and restore those which have been lost would certainly be embraced by climate groups and environmental organisations addressing issues of biodiversity with land restoration and nature-based solutions.
