By Olly Watts and Melanie Coath, Senior Policy Officers.
There was a curious mix of optimism and the urgency to do more, at the launch of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) Report to Parliament on reducing emissions and preparing for climate change.
It was good to hear members of the Committee talk positively about the current situation. Minister Claire Perry was upbeat and strong: the world does still look to the UK for leadership on climate action, and we have strong grassroots support for that. Apparently we are the third best country for climate action. We must maintain this role and lead by example.
Lord Deben too was clear and forthright. The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions have come down markedly since 1990, whilst our economy has grown. We have legally binding carbon reduction targets, to which Parliament must provide the policy and road map to achieve. He urged a focussing on positives, to encourage further action. So, whilst green energy is adding to the cost of energy, alongside this, climate driven energy efficiency measures are cutting demand by a much greater extent, resulting in more than 10% net cost benefit of taking climate change action. And let’s not forgot the costs of fossil energy that the consumer may not pay in energy bills, but which racks up elsewhere - the costs of climate change itself.
The fruits of early investment in a low carbon economy are being reaped. Yet the Minister explained that we are at a tipping point, and need to greatly increase action to achieve her ambition to make UK the leading place in the world for green business.
The CCC is clear that we are not on track to meet our next greenhouse gas reduction targets. We learned that the Government’s long overdue Clean Growth Plan will be published in September, and welcome news that the Minister will spend the intervening period strengthening it. We’ve made it clear what we – a group of development and environment NGOs - hope to see in the Plan, with our own RSPB 2050 Energy Vision setting out how we can meet our targets in harmony with nature.
There was much talk of the value and importance of natural capital – our wildlife and natural environment and, hearteningly, clear recognition that we must address the role and sustainability of our soils for both mitigation and adaptation.
The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment sets the direction for our four countries to develop National Adaptation Programmes (NAP) over the next year. It’s salutary how the natural environment underpins the six major risks, which include impacts across species and habitats, terrestrial and marine. So the development of the country NAPs must place the environment centre stage: to address the impacts, with measureable targets, and so that nature based solutions play their part in our wider, societal needs to adapt to climate change, for water management, health, urban design and more.
Crucially, the CCC articulated a broad and vital message on policy: we have a major policy shortfall looming. Many current policies extend to 2020 and not beyond – such as Biodiversity 2020, the plan to safeguard nature in England, and the Levy Control Framework, which determines funding for renewables. The meeting was peppered with references where clear, climate smart policy is needed: to encourage electric vehicles and improve car and van efficiency; to develop carbon capture and storage. For low carbon heating, and standards for homes to reduce overheating, and also energy efficiency – and we shouldn’t be building anything that will need retrofitting for climate in the future. We have five million properties at high flood risk. And, to leave nature in a better condition, the 25 year plans for nature and farming, and the successor to the Common Agricultural Policy, must recognise and embed climate change.
So, a clear requirement: whilst leaving the EU will undoubtedly dominate, this Parliamentary term must not let the vital policy needs for climate change fall by the wayside. We are at a tipping point, and pursuing the necessary action needs clear Government direction with strong support. It’s a great time to be working on climate policy!
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