I’m not alone in being shocked by prime minister Rishi Sunak’s cynicism and lack of vision in rolling back so many of our crucial net zero targets – targets made by his own party. Coupled with this morning’s news that regulators have approved the Rosebank oil field, it feels like short-termism is robbing the UK of a sustainable future.
As the prime minister said himself, the UK is a world leader in reducing emissions and our industries are at the cutting edge of renewable and net zero technologies. It seemed we had finally reached a political consensus where all serious parties agreed we had to tackle the climate emergency. Government policies gave businesses the time and confidence to plan, train staff and invest for the future. At Severn Wye we see first-hand the savings businesses make from investments in energy efficiency – an average of 30% in high energy users with some payback periods now as little as two years. Most importantly, it wins more business – local, national and international supply chains now demand high environmental standards.
Government policies gave businesses the time and confidence to plan, train staff and invest for the future.
Households too were beginning to see the benefits of retrofit and renewable generation as energy prices rise. A well-insulated home can save its occupants as much as £500 a year on energy bills right now. The lack of investment, policy and targets from this government is going to cost householders dearly. The decision to roll back on energy efficiency standards for landlords is particularly galling – nearly 4.5 million renters will suffer higher bills and potentially health-threatening living conditions in the coming years because of this decision. I can’t imagine a worse way to help people manage the cost of living crisis.
Energy efficiency creates jobs too, it’s a growing market that urgently needs more staff. The renewable energy sector is now one of the UK’s largest employers with more than 250,000 people employed and is growing at a rate of more than 16% a year.
Ironically, the Conservatives have been at the forefront of this change. MP Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero paper was inspirational and realistic about the opportunities and the challenges. Setting deadlines for gas boilers and petrol and diesel vehicles set a global standard for tackling climate change and envisioned a future to be embraced – a future that would boost our economy and our standing in the world as well as creating secure, long-term jobs.
This change in rhetoric from government will not just damage business and cost the country more in the long term; it creates a narrative that we should be fearful of change. And when we fear change we shy away from it. That means missing out on the reputational and economic benefits of being leaders in climate change mitigation.
It makes me sad that our nation, once so bold and world leading in this arena, will fall back into mediocrity. We have to do better.
