Key Sentence:
- The government is expected to announce its plans to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions next week.
It has been signed with ambitious goals and tries to set an example for other countries ahead of the COP26 world leaders meeting in Glasgow in November. The government is committed to cutting emissions by 2035 and focusing on the UK by 2050 – meaning the country will absorb as much carbon dioxide (e.g., by planting trees) as it emits.
But Great Britain, as host of the Glasgow Summit, must also demonstrate its readiness to act as Queen and Greta Thunberg say in different ways – less talk, more work. So what could be the government’s zero net strategies?
1. Heat subsidies
It’s not just protesters blocking highways – almost everyone agrees that tackling how we heat our homes is a priority. Therefore, the government will likely clarify how it will fulfill its previous obligations to insulate housing, especially public housing, and encourage a shift to cleaner heat sources. There is a cleaner alternative to gas boilers: heat pumps. They’re a lot cheaper to run, but the starting price of £6,000 and up puts most people off.
Nick Maybe of environmental consultancy E3G suggested that the government help companies provide interest-free loans. “You’ll get it by renting it,” said Mr. Mayby. “Distribute throughout the life of the heat pump, and people will save money. The British industry association CBI, which represents businesses, agrees that the government should “get the ball rolling” – in the hope. That heat pumps will become cheaper in the long term and subsidies can be phased out.
2. Reduce the speed of the burger
Prince Charles does not eat meat several days of the week. The government could ask more of us to follow suit. They may be reluctant to tell shoppers what to add to their carts, but according to a study by think tank Demos. More than 90% of us would support a government campaign to reduce meat and dairy consumption.
A more radical step would be to impose higher taxes on meat or lower taxes on fruits and vegetables to influence our purchases. But the government appeared to have pulled the idea out of the crowd earlier this year. Saying it would not tax “on the big British hammer or whatever.”
Polly Mackenzie, CEO of Demos, said the government should address consumer demand and use agricultural policies to move beyond simply subsidizing production. “We have repatriated control of agricultural subsidies because of Brexit,” he said. “We can change what we pay farmers, shifting that effort and investment to encourage rehabilitation, better mountain land management, and reforestation.”
3. Street light loading
The move to electric vehicles (EVs) is ongoing, but there’s one obstacle: there aren’t enough charging points. You can’t just charge a car from a fifth-floor apartment, and according to the AA. About 30% of homeowners don’t have access to a place to set at home or work.
Lawmakers suggested requiring employers to include public charging points, and councils should ensure that charging infrastructure is in place. But low-income, remote and rural areas are at risk of being left behind when the commercial sector installs charging points, said Nick Maybe of E3G.
One way to fill the gap is to turn more streetlights into charging stations, tested many times. Charging is slower than dedicated charging stations, but installation is relatively inexpensive. Above all, the Chancellor must support the local government financially to open the filling point to everyone.
4. Carbon footprint
However, Nick Mayby’s top priority is something that sounds more mundane: reporting to the company. The problem is, most corporate bosses don’t work long enough to think of a short-term plan. And want new rules that require companies to publish their long-term plans to reach zero net.
No other country has managed to do this so far. “That will change the whole face of the UK economy. Investors will struggle with shy companies that can’t show they are ready,” he said.