Our Head of Climate Change Policy, Ruth Davis, found much to celebrate in the Government’s plans for a transition to a low carbon economy. Here are her thoughts:
I very much hope today’s announcement marks a watershed in the long, hard battle to tackle dangerous climate change.
It would be a truly grudging climateer who was not delighted by Government’s commitment to a real renewable energy revolution, while seeking to safeguard our natural environment. It is hugely welcome.
The RSPB will be urging all parties to build on this strong foundation in the years to come. This is an area where consensus is precious and hard-won.
There was much more to chew on in the plans announced today however, and we now have a chance to consider whether those plans match up to the scale and urgency of the crisis.
The big question is whether the ambition matches the science of climate change. The answer, sadly, is not yet. The UK needs to halve emissions by 2020 if we are to do our bit in keeping the global temperature increase to 2 degrees. The figure in today’s announcement was 34 per cent.
So, apart from the good news on renewable energy, how do the plans for other parts of our economy measure up?
On energy efficiency, the piloting of 'pay as you save' green mortgages for homes is welcome, but then energy efficiency is a no-brainer; the one area that is all gain, no pain. We simply need lots more, much faster.
On the future of the electricity sector, reforming the regulator Ofgem is very welcome as are plans to ensure fast grid connections for renewable energy. However, there is still no clear vision for future power. Firms will continue building high-carbon power plants unless they know these have a limited life span in a low-carbon UK.
The Committee on Climate Change recommended an almost zero-carbon power sector by 2030. Government are promising us ‘a 2020-2030 route-map’. By the time it is drawn up, new coal plants could have already locked us into a high carbon future. All parties need to push urgently for an emissions performance standard, to drive long-term emission reductions in the power sector.
On transport, the Government focussed on vehicle efficiency and electrification - measures the RSPB has championed as an alterative to environmentally destructive biofuels. Yet, on the same day, we and others boycotted a party marking the anniversary of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation - a wrong-headed policy which promotes the inefficient use of those biofuels. It is time to say clearly that biofuels are not a technology of the future.