This was not an election fought largely on environmental issues. Nevertheless, it is clear that the parties that campaigned for ambitious climate and nature policies, against a shrill campaign from the right wing media, won seats. The party that framed net zero as a burden and played down its own environmental record, lost them. Politicians and pundits should remember this in the coming years.
The new government’s climate commitments are the most ambitious yet
Labour’s ambitious climate commitments are the least we should expect given the urgency of the climate crisis. Nevertheless, it is worth listing the ambitions: clean power by 2030, doubling onshore wind, tripling solar power and quadrupling offshore wind; minimum energy efficiency standards for renters by 2030; GB Energy and more.
The new government also has a strong mandate to act on nature and resources. It has pledged to invest in new habitats and to meet legally binding nature recovery targets by 2030. The short manifesto statement that “Labour is committed to… moving to a circular economy” should herald big changes in resource use.
If the new government follows through on these promises, it will re-establish the UK’s leadership on the environment when it is more needed than ever. It will secure significant green investment to revive the UK’s economy. And it will ensure that people and communities across the country feel the benefits of environmental action.
It will not be easy. The government has many priorities and, when it comes to the environment, it is likely to face an unremittingly hostile press and attacks from some on the right who will paint net zero as an elite project that comes at the expense of ordinary people. We see that narrative playing out in France, Germany and beyond.
If it is to succeed, the new government must show that action on the environment is not a nice to have, but core to the work of all ministers, starting with Rachel Reeves, the first ‘green chancellor’. It must also redouble its commitment to a fair transition that tangibly improves people’s lives.
They must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past on planning
Labour’s manifesto was more detailed than expected. But, if the party is short of ideas, Green Alliance has them. On net zero, the government inherits an underpowered delivery programme, one that was fatally undermined by Rishi Sunak’s lack of enthusiasm for the agenda. We will update our Net zero policy tracker to monitor progress in meeting statutory targets, with a focus on the highest emitting sectors, transport and buildings. And I hope that on planning reform, a key government priority, the government will avoid repeating the mistakes of its immediate predecessors.
Labour’s landslide will bring some brilliant new MPs to the Commons, individuals deeply committed to environmental action. But there are also some outstanding new Liberal Democrat MPs, who stood on an ambitious manifesto, and four new Green MPs. The government has a huge majority, but we saw in the last parliament that pressure from MPs and peers can still make a big difference.
What of the Conservatives? Some outstanding environmental champions stood down before the election and other green Tories lost their seats. But so did many of the most backward looking, climate sceptic MPs. As far as we can tell, most first time Conservative MPs are mainstream, sensible individuals who will not want climate action dragged into a damaging culture war. The party will also have to reflect on how little it gained from running against its often proud environmental record.
With our partners in the NGO and business sectors, Green Alliance looks forward to working with all the newly elected MPs. We also want to build alliances with other sectors. Environmental politics cannot be insulated from concerns around social justice and fairness, at home and in the countries most harmed by climate change and the degradation of the natural world. As our sector celebrates its wins, we must remember to bring our allies with us.
Let’s celebrate a government committed to strong climate and nature action
I remember reading an article in late-November 2008 condemning Barack Obama for betraying his election promises. That was six weeks before he was sworn in as president.
I have no doubt that the new government will fall short of expectations at some point in the coming days and weeks. There is a gulf between everyday politics and those who look at the charts on climate breakdown and nature loss, at how very scary things are, and rightly want more.
But for now, let us celebrate that we have a new government – and scores of MPs from across parliament – committed to strong action on the things we care about. I hope that the new ministers will want to work closely with civil society in delivering positive change.
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