Who should we believe?

Parliament’s  Climate Change Committee published two progress reports last  Thursday, showing the UK lagging behind on its key goal of 78% cuts to greenhouse gases by 2035 and making recommendations on how to get back on track.  Lord Deben, the committee chairman, said: “The targets are remarkable and have set a major example[to the world. But the policy is just not there. It’s very clear we need to step up very rapidly.”  Deben warned that if the UK did not have its own clear roadmap and policies, other countries would not come forward with credible plans. “People are going to judge us by whether we link promises with policy and a programme to deliver. If all we do is promise, other people will not take us seriously … it puts the whole process [of Cop26] into jeopardy,”

Chris Venables, the head of politics at Green Alliance, a think tank, said: “It’s becoming clearer than ever that there’s an embarrassing lack of progress at home from the UK government in this crucial year for tackling climate change. The Prime Minister says he’s pulling out all the stops to make Cop26 a success, but every major strategy has been indefinitely delayed or ditched. Businesses and communities are being held back from switching to clean alternatives and supporting a green recovery.”

According to some commentators the Government has been criticised for a series of actions and proposals that campaigners have said run contrary to ministers’ green claims and damage the UK’s reputation ahead of Cop26. These include: the initial go-ahead for a mooted new coalmine in Cumbria, now subject to a public inquiry; new licences for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea; a £27bn road-building plan; slashing incentives for electric cars; airport expansion; cutting air passenger duty on domestic flights; scrapping the green homes grant insulation programme; and cutting overseas aid.

But on the other hand a government spokesperson said: “Any suggestion we have been slow to deliver climate action is widely off the mark. Over the past three decades, we have driven down emissions by 44% – the fastest reduction of any G7 country. Our forthcoming strategies on Heat & Buildings, Hydrogen, Transport and comprehensive Net Zero Strategy this year will set out more of the very policies the Climate Change Committee is calling for as we redouble our efforts to end the UK’s contribution to climate change.”  He  added that the UK had over-achieved against its first and second Carbon Budgets and was on track to outperform the third Carbon Budget which ends in 2022.

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