15.10.19
UK takes the fight against climate change even further
The government has today (Oct 15) announced ambitious new measures to further tackle climate change, in response to Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommendations.
Plans to go ‘further and faster’ with fighting climate change have been set out just four months after the UK became the first leading economy to commit to net zero emissions by 2050.
The official response to the CCC recommendation includes plans to galvanise all aspects of government to do more to impact climate change. This includes ambitious plans to speed up the decarbonisation of transport.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
“From driving our cars, to catching a train or taking a flight abroad, it is crucial that we ensure transport is as environmentally friendly as possible.”
“This is why, as well as agreeing to the CCC’s recommendation on net zero by 2050, we have launched this ground-breaking plan to achieve net zero emissions across every single mode of transport.”
“We want to work with industry and communities around the country to develop this plan – to make our towns and cities better places to live, help to create new jobs, improve air quality”
Other new measures include a consultation on the introduction of mandatory energy performance ratings for business buildings, helping businesses manage the amount of energy they are using.
This links to proposals to improve commercial buildings, with businesses set to save up to £1bn per year in energy bills by 2030.
A second consultation has been planned to make it simpler for large-scale energy storage facilities to get planning permission.
It comes on the same day that the new Environment Bill was introduced in Parliament, aiming to strengthen UK environmental protection particularly post-Brexit.
Business and Energy Secretary Andrea Leadsom said:
“Four months ago, the UK took the bold step of becoming the first country in the developed world to put into law our ambition to wipe out the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050, following the CCC’s advice.”
“This builds on our long and proud track record of leadership - since 1990 we’ve cut our greenhouse gas emissions by 42% while growing our economy by more than two-thirds. More than half of our electricity currently comes from low carbon sources. And we will keep on going further and faster to ensure our action meets our ambition.”
Since legislating for net zero emissions, the government has committed more than £2bn towards supporting the decarbonisation across the sectors.