In the Greek islands people are running away from the results of climate change, meanwhile the UK Government is running scared of taking action to reduce emissions.
Some commentators put the Conservative Party win in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election down to the unpopularity of the ultra-low emission zone scheme (ULEZ) being introduced by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The story is much more complex but this has emboldened anti-environment, anti-climate action Conservative MPs to suggest the party should back off its commitments on climate change and environment. Such as they are.
The by-election came at just the wrong moment in the cycle of project development – the ULEZ has been introduced as a proposal but its benefits cannot yet be seen.
The ULEZ will reduce pollution and congestion. Across London the existing ULEZ has already halved nitrogen dioxide pollution and is predicted to prevent a million hospital admissions by 2050. The extension of the scheme will save the lives of people in Uxbridge.
There is a natural cycle of opposition to new ideas which often subsides when that idea is delivered. The Evening Standard campaigned for years against the London congestion charge yet it is a very successful scheme, that is popular with most people.
Ironically, extending the ULEZ to the constituency was not even Sadiq Khan’s idea. He was required to do itby then UK transport secretary Grant Shapps.
Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith resigned in June saying that the Prime Minister was uninterested in climate change. Moves to reduce planning obstacles to building more onshore windfarms were also abandoned by the UK Government. Now, emboldened by the idea that environmental measures are unpopular, even former environment minister Michael Gove has suggested delaying action on climate change, including rules that would see people’s homes insulated to a decent standard, and the energy secretary has said we should ‘max out’ North Sea oil. Rishi Sunak is supposedly considering delaying the planned 2030 end of sales of petrol and diesel cars. The Daily Telegraph opines that heat pumps will be the ‘next electoral disaster.’
The people who would benefit from these delays and cancellations are landlords and drivers of the most polluting cars. Those who would suffer are the poor, who are of course contributing the least to climate pollution.
At same time the Labour Party’s strong plans to bring about a just transition to low-carbon energy have been put on hold. Apparently until the economy is stronger. And Sir Keir Starmer has been quoted as saying he hates tree huggers.
Yet all the opinion surveys show that action on the environment and climate change is a vote winner, with three quarter of the population saying they are worried about climate change, and a strong majority that action to reduce emissions would be good for the economy.
As the world heats up, temperatures records tumble and concern about climate change increases, the UK’s two biggest parties are both backing away from the measures we need to take to reduce emissions – measures which would insulate people’s homes, protect human health and create new zero-carbon industries.
A version of the article appeared in the Scotsman newspaper on the 26th July 2023.