The Prime Minister’s duties: Zero Hour and the CEE Bill

The UK Met Office and the University of East Anglia recently confirmed that 2023 was the planet's warmest year on record. During this same period Antarctic sea ice coverage dropped to a record low.

Britain's Climate Change Act contains the world's first legally binding national commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions: it commits the UK to reaching net zero by 2050 (though many reputable authorities maintain that is far too late).Meanwhile those of you concerned about our future and that of our siblings will have not failed to notice that the words ‘climate change’ were noticeably absent from UK Chancellor’s spring budget. Instead, Jeremy Hunt announced that the government was freezing fuel duty on petrol and diesel for the 14th year in a row. The chancellor also announced a year-long extension to the windfall tax on oil-and-gas companies, but failed to commit to spending the money raised on new climate investments.Nor did he offer any new policies to help boost the rollout of low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.

Yet there might still be some light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday, Labour MP Alex Sobel reintroduced the Climate and Ecology Bill – now renamed Climate and Nature (CAN) with cross-party backing, in a call for all politicians, whichever party, to unite around the need for urgent, joined-up climate and nature action. If made law, the Bill places vitally important duties on the Prime Minister and Secretary of State.

*    the Prime Minister would have a duty to ensure the UK reduces its carbon emissions to a level consistent with keeping global averages to a level consistent with keeping global average temperature increase to 1.5⁰C compared to pre-industrial levels

*    the Prime Minister would have a duty to restore and regenerate soils, biodiverse habitats and ecosystems by 2030

*    the Secretary of State would have a duty to publish a strategy to achieve the specified objectives on climate change, ecosystems and biodiversity within 12 months of passing the act, taking on board the recommendations of a Citizen’s Assembly

The Bill written by scientists, environmental experts and campaigners was first introduced by Caroline Lucas (Green MP) in September 2020. which was written by scientists, experts and campaigners. It now has the support of more than 700 prospective MPs – more than 10% of those in the Westminster electorate. Re-introducing the bill Labour MP Alex Sobel said:

 "I'm proud to have introduced the Climate and Nature Bill with cross-party support from MPs of all main parties. This joined-up climate and nature plan is continuing the legacy of the Climate Change Act 2008. This CAN Bill is needed if we want to reclaim our environmental leadership; and finally get serious about reducing energy bills, protecting our wildlife, creating green jobs, and bolstering our energy and food security. When made law, the CAN Bill will set the UK on a path where we can properly tackle the interconnected climate and nature crises—whilst making sure that no one is left behind in the long-overdue just transition we need. Global emissions are rising. Nature is in peril. So in this pivotal election year, let's align our climate and nature laws in line with the science—and our international agreements—and deliver the climate and environmental action the public are crying out for."

You can watch Chris Packham’s brief appeal for support for the CAN Bill  here.  

Cleaner energy for a greener planet

How green is your energy supplier?

Your money is one of your most powerful tools for making a stand on environmental sustainability and choosing who supplies your energy and how you use it, can have a significant impact on the environment. The UK has pledged to reach "net zero" - where no additional planet-warming greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere - by 2050. To achieve this, much more of our energy needs to come from renewable and low-carbon sources, and much less from fossil fuels. 

Traditionally much of our energy has come from coal but today this is insignificant. Whilst we should be encouraged by the increased proportion of renewables we still have a way to go and the Government’s own Climate Change Committee has expressed concerns that the UK could miss its future targets.

Most of our energy comes from the National Grid and there are no separate routes to supply genuine 100% clean energy apart although some local community energy schemes are starting to do things differently. Dozens of energy deals now claim to offer 100% renewable energy  but many are not as green as they seem; ‘greenwashing’ is widespread. Just recently Uswitch published the first comparison site to set standards for green tariffs – gold, silver or bronze – depending on whether the supplier generates its own renewable electricity, or how it sources its electricity, to help separate the true green from “pale green” tariffs.

The debate on which are the greenest energy supplies in the UK is ongoing; the safest bet is to choose a gold standard deal and the four which currently  make the grade are all from Good Energy  which sources clean electricity directly from1,600 renewable energy projects across the UK, and runs its own solar and windfarms too.  Other energy suppliers committed to supplying green energy and actively investing in renewables include 100Green (formerly GEUK), Ecotricity, and Octopus Energy which claims to be on a mission to build a truly sustainable energy system globally. Switching to a renewable energy provider is absolutely, unequivocally a good thing.so if you haven’t yet done so, think again (and if I recommend that switch, both of us could get a gift voucher or a credit on our first bill!).

So after checking out the credentials of your current supplier (and perhaps switching) perhaps the most practical actions you can take are:

1.  Review your home energy use and look for ways of reducing your consumption which is good for the pocket as well as the planet. Some are so unbelievably simple and yet often ignored.  How many unnecessary lights do you leave on? Do you still fill the kettle just for a cup of tea? Have you changed all your light bulbs to LEDs. Why not turn down your central heating by 1⁰ C. Whilst the CO2 savings on such simple tasks seem small, collectively they could make a significant difference and help your pocket too.

'The greenest energy is the energy you don't use at all'

2.  With prices of solar panels dropping so substantially, you could consider generating some of your own 100% clean energy and Increasing numbers of households are now doing this You might also be able to strike a deal with one of the large solar farm cooperatives like Big Solar Co-op or Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative in Oxfordshire which are beginning to spread their benefits to the local community.

Your money has power; plan to use it wisely to select an energy supplier
which can be seen to be making a positive contribution to the health of the planet. 

 

Making money matter

We often forget that our money is one of the most powerful tools for making a stand on environmental sustainability (see UN Sustainability Goals). Whether you have a small amount in your current bank or savings account, or thousands in your pension pot, using your finances to cut your carbon emissions is more significant than giving up flying or going vegetarian. So why not take stock on how you use your money.
Who do you bank with? Where are your savings, pension or investments deposited? Making the right choices can significantly reduce the size of your carbon footprint as well as helping to protect the natural world.

How green is your bank?

Personal banking, savings and investment can all contribute positively to a more sustainable planet; making the wrong choices can have significant negative effects.

When you put your money into a current account or savings, it doesn't just sit there; substantial sums are used to support individuals and businesses and generate profit. Some of these investments benefit the environment; others cause substantial harm. Though they would have you believe otherwise, the ’ big five’ high street banks are variously still financing coal, oil & gas, supporting nuclear weapons (see:dontbankonthebomb), are involved in human rights  abuse and/or facilitating wetland or rainforest destruction. The number of greenwashing instances in 2023 (misleading sustainability-related claims to investors or consumers) involving UK banks rose by 70%, much of it related to claims about fossil fuels.

‘Banking on Climate Chaos’ reports how since the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, the world 60 biggest banks have financed fossil fuels to the tune of $38 trillion. Indeed our present UK Government continues to press ahead with new fossil fuel investments boosting research and extraction and extending offshore drilling in the massive new Rosebank oilfield.  Worse still the public are effectively subsidising more than 90% of the costs (£2.8 billion) through a deliberate loophole in its windfall tax.  2023 was the hottest year on record with freak weather events across the globe and global carbon emissions at an all-time high and the UK Government appears to be ignoring the stark warning from its own Climate Change Committee that it is not on track to meet its declared targets and is losing its position as a former global leader on climate. 

Ethical banks or building societies avoid investing in environmentally harmful or otherwise unethical industries enabling you to have a say in how your money is used and often to support causes important to you. This might involve reducing the impact of climate change, or avoiding gambling or animal testing. ‘Good with Money’ lists the top 7 ethical accounts in 2024. Consider changing to one of the ethical banks (Triodos, Starling, Monzo, Charity Bank, or Nationwide and other building societies); for more details visit this posting on  'Good with money'.

How green is your pension?

We know that greening your pension cuts your carbon footprint 21 times more than going veggie, stopping flying and changing your energy provider combined. But which scheme is the greenest?  After the hottest year on record ‘Make my money matter’  recently produced what they claim is the first ever ranking of pension providers. Even top ranking Aviva and Legal and General still only score just over 5 out of 10! Why not check up how your pension company uses you money and then visit Ethical Investors.

Your money has power; plan to use it wisely to make a positive contribution to the health of the planet.