In terms of the Climate Change Emergency motion
from yesterday, there was no vote on it as it went through unopposed.
Whilst it is clearly positive that more people are becoming aware of and
engaged with this issue, that is one of the most important issues of our age,
we do also need to ensure that any response is based on facts and not just an
emotional reaction.
The threat of global warming has never been more apparent, but alongside
this, we are also now witnessing an unstoppable momentum towards a more
ambitious global response.
However amidst all the clamour for change, it is important that change
when it does happen, is tangible and achievable, and not just signalled as a
means for political point-scoring.
For example the Government has already signalled that we want to be more
ambitious both in our actions and, crucially, in driving concerted global
actions. There is also less focus on the achievements that we have
made to date and this means the tone of the conversation can be fearful not
hopeful.
Nationally, we should all be proud of the UK’s world-leading role in
tackling climate change and the transition to Clean Growth. We were the first
country to introduce legally binding long-term emissions targets under the
landmark Climate Change Act in 2008 where we played an important role in
offering committed cross-party support to pass the
legislation. The Act set in place binding carbon budgets that
now commit us to a 57 percent reduction in emissions by 2032. Since 1990, we
have now cut emissions by 42 per cent while growing the economy by over 72 per
cent. This shows that economic growth is not incompatible with cutting carbon
emissions. We have cut our emissions per unit of national income on average by
3.7 per cent a year, well ahead of the EU average of 2.3 per cent and the G7
average of 2.2 per cent. The last time the UKs emissions were this low was in
1888!
As well as this we have taken steps to phase out coal use in our
electricity generation through a huge shift to renewables and gas, driven by
decisive policy action. We have seen coal use on the grid tumble from almost 40
per cent in 2012 to our first “coal free” day last April and the longest coal
free stretch ever (90 hrs 45 minutes) over the Easter weekend. By 2025 the UK
will have no coal powered electricity generation.
Renewable electricity generation has also quadrupled since 2010 and
clean electricity now gives us over 50 per cent of our total. Cornwall has been
at the forefront of many of the initiatives, with our focus on renewables as
well as pioneering the development of deep-geothermal energy, which can provide
another source of clean energy for the future.
On top of this the low carbon sector and its supply chain is now
providing almost 400,000 green collar jobs in the UK (more than aerospace) and
is growing much faster than the main economy – with estimated potential exports
of more than £60 billion by 2030.
The government is investing more than £2.5 billion in low carbon
technology over this parliament – the largest ever public R&D investment in
clean growth.
However, climate change is too broad a challenge for the UK Government
to tackle alone. This is a global problem to which the solution will be global
commitment and I want to see the UK’s leadership and ambition continue to work
with other countries around the world. We played an influential role in
delivering the historic Paris Agreement in 2015 and only last year we helped
create the first “rulebook” to bring the Paris Agreement to life at the latest
round of UN talks in Poland.
Clearly there is much more to do but it is always important to
acknowledge the work already taking place. It is simply not true to say this
issue is being ignored or nothing is being done. We should be rightly proud of
the leading role the UK is taking and will continue to take on this issue.
Renewable electricity generation has also
quadrupled since 2010 and clean electricity now gives us over 50 per cent of
our total.
On top of this the low carbon sector and its supply
chain is now providing almost 400,000 green collar jobs in the UK (more than
aerospace) and is growing much faster than the main economy – with estimated
potential exports of more than £60 billion by 2030.
The government is investing more than £2.5 billion
in low carbon technology over this parliament – the largest ever public R&D
investment in clean growth.
However, climate change is too broad a challenge
for the UK Government to tackle alone. This is a global problem to which the
solution will be global commitment and I want to see the UK’s leadership and
ambition continue to work with other countries around the world. We played an
influential role in delivering the historic Paris Agreement in 2015 and only
last year we helped create the first “rulebook” to bring the Paris Agreement to
life at the latest round of UN talks in Poland.
I was also pleased to see yesterday’s announcement
from the Committee on Climate Change Committee in their report, that says the
UK should lead the global fight against climate change by cutting greenhouse
gases to nearly zero by 2050.
he report maintains this can be done at no added
cost from previous estimates. Its report says that if other countries follow
the UK, there’s a 50-50 chance of staying below the recommended 1.5C
temperature rise by 2100.
The CCC - the independent adviser to government on
climate change - said it would not be able to hit “net zero“ emissions any
sooner, but 2050 was still an extremely significant goal.
Clearly there is much more to do but it is always
important to acknowledge the work already taking place. It is simply not true
to say this issue is being ignored or nothing is being done. We should be
rightly proud of the leading role the UK is taking and will continue to take on
this issue.
