tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23863318651265248452024-03-08T11:32:45.720+00:00Random Thoughts from CommuterlandJottings from SW Surrey. This used to be mainly about energy but now I've retired it's just an old man's rant. From 23 June 2016 'til 12 December 2019 Brexit dominated but that is now a lost cause. So, I will continue to point out the stupidities of government when I'm so minded; but you may also find the odd post on climate change, on popular science or on genealogy - particularly my own family.RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.comBlogger800125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-13857733342754295222024-02-26T11:01:00.002+00:002024-02-26T11:01:58.086+00:00<p> UK Government ministers are so obviously desperate:</p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2386331865126524845/1385773334275429522" target="_blank">Reposted from Edie</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">MPs seek certainty over environmental impact of UK’s largest post-Brexit trade deal</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">MPs on the Business and Trade Committee are calling for the Government to allow lawmakers to debate and vote on the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc, partly due to environmental worries.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; 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font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">FINANCE</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/policy/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">POLICY</a></li></span></ul></div></div><div class="col-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; 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padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div></div></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 15px 15px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="social share" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 15px 15px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div><hr style="border-bottom: none; border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="MPs seek certainty over environmental impact of UK’s largest post-Brexit trade deal" class="ratio-16x9 post-single-image active loaded" data-loaded="true" data-placeholder-background="transparent" data-src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=856&height=482&func=crop" data-srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=306&height=172&func=crop 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=416&height=234&func=crop 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=636&height=358&func=crop 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=746&height=420&func=crop 746w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=856&height=482&func=crop 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=1296&height=729&func=crop 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=2560&height=1440&func=crop 2560w" data-toggle-class="active" height="316" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=856&height=482&func=crop" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=306&height=172&func=crop 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=416&height=234&func=crop 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=636&height=358&func=crop 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=746&height=420&func=crop 746w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=856&height=482&func=crop 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=1296&height=729&func=crop 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentNighttime.gif?width=2560&height=1440&func=crop 2560w" style="aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.7s ease-in-out 0s; vertical-align: middle;" width="562" /></div><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Last year, <a href="https://www.edie.net/uks-biggest-post-brexit-trade-deal-risks-encouraging-hugely-destructive-agriculture/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK’s intention to join the CPTPP after two years of negotiations</a>, marking it as the country’s most significant post-Brexit trade deal yet.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The agreement is expected to facilitate increased trading opportunities with nations such as Australia, Japan and Mexico across various industries including food and drink, automotive, services and technology.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">British Ministers claim that the deal will yield an additional £1.8bn in income for the UK over the next decade, supplementing revenue from existing bilateral trade agreements with some members.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">However, MPs argue that estimating the benefits of CPTPP and its impact on economic growth remains challenging, particularly as Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch distanced herself from economic modelling produced by her own civil servants.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Business and Trade Committee’s chair Liam Byrne said: “Today, the Government’s target of covering 80% of trade with free trade agreements is beyond reach and we are off-track to meet the target of £1trn of exports by 2030.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“That is why CPTPP is important. But, for all its merits or drawbacks, if we’re serious about Parliamentary sovereignty, Government must let MPs debate the deal and vote on it.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“We need some hard-headed analysis of the economic benefits of the trade deals ministers propose to signs. It is simply not good enough for Secretaries of State to cast aside numbers produced by their own department, without providing their own figures.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Controversial impacts of the agreement</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Moreover, the MPs are also urging for a parliamentary vote due to the controversial environmental and ethical aspects of joining the trade bloc.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Concerns are high about the potential impact on UK safeguards regarding imports of controversial agri-food products, such as beef and pork treated with growth promoters, agri-food produced using pesticides banned in the UK, and palm oil linked to deforestation.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Trade and Agriculture Commission has warned of potential increased imports of such products due to tariff reductions under the CPTPP, presenting a cost advantage over UK producers who are legally held to higher sustainability standards.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Moreover, contentious provisions within the agreement allowing foreign investors to sue governments over actions affecting their profits have raised alarms about the UK Government’s regulatory autonomy, particularly concerning the English water industry.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Worker rights implications also raise red flags, with concerns raised by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) regarding trade with nations like Malaysia, where evidence of forced labour exists, and Vietnam, where workers’ rights to unionise are restricted.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In response to these concerns, the Business and Trade Committee is urging a debate and vote on the trade deal during the 21-day scrutiny period under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It is also calling for a revised impact assessment from the Government outlining the expected gains from CPTPP membership, and for clarity on measures to ensure UK businesses fully optimise the treaty’s benefits.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-66489352789252353852023-12-08T09:29:00.002+00:002023-12-08T09:29:39.675+00:00Battery Strategy or Battery Stuttergy?<p> Sunak claims that the recently unveiled UK Battery Strategy is part of HMG "going full throttle" to back UK business. However, as Kemi Badenoch acknowledges, the US and other countries are already grabbing market share through state subsidies. Once those plants are on the ground they will be had to compete against. "Full throttle" this ain't. <a href="https://www.edie.net/whats-in-the-uks-new-battery-strategy-and-advanced-manufacturing-plan/?utm_content=What%E2%80%99s%20in%20the%20UK%E2%80%99s%20new%20battery%20strategy%20and%20advanced%20manufacturing%20plan%3F&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">Reposted from </a><a href="https://www.edie.net/whats-in-the-uks-new-battery-strategy-and-advanced-manufacturing-plan/?utm_content=What%E2%80%99s%20in%20the%20UK%E2%80%99s%20new%20battery%20strategy%20and%20advanced%20manufacturing%20plan%3F&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">Edie</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What’s in the UK’s new battery strategy and advanced manufacturing plan?</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Department for Business and Trade launched the UK’s highly-anticipated Battery Strategy over the weekend, setting out a vision to grow supply chains and manufacturing capacity for batteries big and small this decade. Here, we summarise the key pledges it contains.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/climate-nature/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; 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font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="What’s in the UK’s new battery strategy and advanced manufacturing plan?" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BatteryPacks.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BatteryPacks.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BatteryPacks.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BatteryPacks.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BatteryPacks.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BatteryPacks.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/BatteryPacks.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /></div><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-battery-strategy" style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">The Battery Strategy</a></span> was published on Sunday (26 November), ahead of a major meeting of international investors hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (27 November).</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It seeks to allay concerns about the UK falling behind in the global race to scale supply chains and manufacturing capacity for batteries necessary for the net-zero transition – whether they are those found in electric vehicles (EVs) or those used in grid-scale energy storage projects.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has stated that while markets like the US have “embarked on large tax and spending sprees to claim a share of the global market”, her team will not allow the UK to be “drawn in to a distortive subsidy strategy”.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“For those of us who believe in the power of the market, the key to unlocking continued growth in our manufacturing industry is capital investment from the private sector, which sustains jobs and growth for the UK,” Badenoch added in her foreword to the Strategy document.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Strategy stipulates that the UK Government expects to leverage £5 of private investment for every £1 of spending from public sources. In terms of public spending, the Strategy promises more than £60m of new funding, including:</span></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">An additional £38m for the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, which focuses on research and innovation</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">An additional £12m for the new Advanced Materials Battery Industrialisation Centre, set up to bridge the gap between research and commercialization</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">An additional £11m for the Faraday Challenge, to support innovators</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">£20m for a new proof-of-concept scheme to develop a pathway for scaling university spin-outs</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Further “sustained, consistent and targeted support” for specific projects across the whole value chain, on a case-by-case basis</span></li></ul><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Strategy document reiterates <a href="https://www.edie.net/uk-government-announces-4-5bn-boost-for-manufacturing-with-net-zero-focus/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the £2bn package that was already confirmed to support the automotive manufacturing sector’s net-zero transition</a> ahead of <a href="https://www.edie.net/a-mixed-bag-on-net-zero-how-did-the-green-economy-react-to-the-autumn-statement/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">last week’s Autumn Statement</a>. This funding is to be spent between 2025 and 2030.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The funding is being allocated to support a three-pronged strategy covering designing new technologies; building out supply chains and manufacturing capacity; and sustaining future growth through skills planning and collaboration.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">As well as direct funding, the Strategy stipulates changes to the tax relief system for research-intensive SMEs, due to take effect in April 2024. SMEs will be able to allocate 40% of their investment to R&D, up from 30%, and still claim an enhanced rate of relief.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Strategy additionally sates that the Government will commence exploratory work on new R&D centres, co-located with EV manufacturing hubs, next year.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It will also consult on new rules and guidelines for end-of-life battery management. This process can hopefully begin before the general election.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Advanced manufacturing plan</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Alongside the Battery Strategy, the Department for Business and Trade also published <span style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advanced-manufacturing-plan" style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">an Advanced Manufacturing Plan.</a></span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">A new critical imports and supply chains strategy, to support both the Advanced Manufacturing Plan and Battery Strategy, has been promised “shortly”.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Advanced Manufacturing Plan provides more details on the measures announced before and during <a href="https://www.edie.net/autumn-budget-chancellor-boasts-20bn-business-boost-and-outlines-grid-reform-measures-to-speed-renewables/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the Autumn Statement</a>, including:</span></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">A total of <a href="https://www.edie.net/uk-government-announces-4-5bn-boost-for-manufacturing-with-net-zero-focus/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">£4.5bn of Government spending on manufacturing, to be spent from 2025</a></span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The full expensing scheme being made permanent, enabling businesses to claim back relief for spending on certain kinds of new equipment</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">An extension of the Made Smarter scheme</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">£300m in annual tax relief for businesses meeting energy efficiency requirements under a new six-year Climate Change Agreement scheme</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">An extension to the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund backed with £185m</span></li></ul><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In terms of new information, the plan pledges £50m from Westminster coffers for a new two-year programme to develop new apprenticeships for careers in low-carbon manufacturing.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">This will feed in to a new skills strategy, which is due in early 2024 and will have green jobs as the primary focus. The UK Government has long been called upon to update its strategic education and skills plans after legislating for net-zero by 2050 in 2019.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Also in early 2024, the plan states, the Government will publish a roadmap detailing plans to scale the UK’s solar generation capacity to 70GW by 2035. The roadmap will be <a href="https://www.edie.net/solar-taskforce-looks-at-untapped-potential-of-commercial-sites-to-drive-uks-clean-energy-plans/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">based on the work of the solar industry taskforce set up earlier this year</a> and, given <a href="https://www.edie.net/solar-farm-restrictions-would-add-5bn-to-british-energy-bills-mps-warned/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the Government’s reservations about expanding solar on farmland</a>, is expected to contain much detail on scaling onsite solar on commercial and industrial buildings like warehouses and factories.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">On the topic of taskforces, the Plan confirms the launch of a new hydrogen taskforce to assess the best delivery pathway for meeting the UK’s 2030 hydrogen production target. The Government is targeting 10GW of low-carbon manufacturing capacity by the end of the decade, at least half of which should be renewable. The new taskforce should publish its initial recommendations in spring 2024.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Announcing the Plan, Sunak said: “We are going full throttle to back British businesses and make the UK a world leader in manufacturing – which already makes up over 43% of all our exports and employs 2.6 million people across the country.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Today’s plan will not only give the industry the long-term certainty they need to grow and invest further in the UK, but it will also lay the foundations to create more jobs and opportunities for people across the country.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Labour has said that the Plan is not sufficient to make up for past missed opportunities to invest strategically in low-carbon manufacturing.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The past 13 years of Conservative government has been marked by a complete lack of stability, consistency and ambition which has turned potential investors away from Britain,” said Jonathan Reynolds, shadow trade and business secretary.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-298808262350918532023-12-08T09:19:00.001+00:002023-12-08T09:19:17.141+00:00Nissan's UK EV Investment Plans<p> Good news but is it too little too late for UK plc? <a href="https://www.edie.net/nissan-funnels-1bn-in-sunderland-gigafactory-to-produce-new-ev-models/?utm_content=Read%20more&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">Reposted from Edie</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Nissan funnels £1bn into Sunderland gigafactory to produce new EV models</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Automaker Nissan has confirmed that more than £1bn will be invested across its UK operations, including the flagship Sunderland manufacturing facility, to produce fully electric vehicle production in the coming years.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; 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line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">24th November 2023</span></span></p></div></div></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 15px 15px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Save</span></span><ul class="post-pins" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; 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font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Nissan funnels £1bn into Sunderland gigafactory to produce new EV models" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/nissandsun.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/nissandsun.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/nissandsun.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/nissandsun.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/nissandsun.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/nissandsun.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/nissandsun.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /><p class="caption" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Image: Nissan</span></p></div><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Nissan is investing £1.12bn into its UK operations and wider supply chain for R&D and manufacturing for two new models, fully electric models – the Qashqai and JUKE. Nissan has also confirmed that next-generation Nissan LEAFs – one of the first commercial-scale electric vehicles (EVs) on the market – will also be produced at its EV36Zero hub in Sunderland.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The investment will cover facility and manufacturing process improvements, skills training, and tooling for suppliers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In total, Nissan’s manufacturing blueprint in the UK will see £3bn invested in the three EV modes at three gigafactories. The new fund builds on Nissan’s vision to deliver a passenger car line-up that its 100% EV by 2030.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Nissan President, Makoto Uchida, said: “Exciting, electric vehicles are at the heart of our plans to achieve carbon neutrality. With electric versions of our core European models on the way, we are accelerating towards a new era for Nissan, for industry and for our customers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The EV36Zero project puts our Sunderland plant, Britain’s biggest ever car factory, at the heart of our future vision. It means our UK team will be designing, engineering and manufacturing the vehicles of the future, driving us towards an all-electric future for Nissan in Europe.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">EV360</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The company wants to <a href="https://www.edie.net/news/8/Nissan-unveils--1bn-electric-vehicle-hub-and-battery-gigafactory-in-Sunderland/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">transform the Sunderland facility into a £1bn EV hub</a> that will feature a 9GWh battery production gigafactory – the first of its kind in the UK.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Nissan EV36Zero EV hub was launched in 2021 through an initial £1bn investment by Nissan and its battery technology partner Envision AESC with support from Sunderland City Council. The “hub” combines EV manufacturing, optimised renewable energy use and large-scale battery production to drive low-carbon innovation.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Nissan will invest up to £423m to produce a next-generation EV in the UK, while Envision AESC will invest £450m into what will be the UK’s first gigafactory, located adjacent to the Nissan plant in the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP). The gigafactory will be powered by renewable energy.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The new gigafactory will create 750 new jobs and safeguard 300 existing employees. Future plans could see up to 4,500 green jobs created in the region by 2030. No date has been given as to when the plant will become operational.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The company has also confirmed a <a href="https://www.edie.net/news/8/Nissan-invests--52m-into-closed-loop-aluminium-production-at-Sunderland-facility/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">£52m investment into its Sunderland facility</a> that will enable the use of recycled and lightweight aluminium for the production of Qashqai vehicles to reduce the energy required for material processing.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Additionally, <a href="https://www.edie.net/nissan-given-green-light-on-20mw-solar-farm-expansion-at-sunderland-plant/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">a 20MW solar farm at the plant</a>, co-located at the facility has been approved.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Nissan has today (24 November) confirmed that both vehicle and battery production will be powered by a microgrid that incorporates both wind and solar farms at the site. This will have the capability to deliver 100% renewable electricity to Nissan and its neighbouring suppliers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Commenting on the announcement, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Nissan’s investment is a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry, which already contributes a massive £71bn a year to our economy. This venture will no doubt secure Sunderland’s future as the UK’s Silicon Valley for electric vehicle innovation and manufacturing.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Making the UK the best place to do business is at the heart of our economic plan. We will continue to back businesses like Nissan to expand and grow their roots in the UK every step of the way as we make the right long term decisions for a brighter future.”</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-20823982298585181432023-12-08T09:15:00.001+00:002023-12-08T09:15:33.767+00:00Urgent Requirement for Grid Upgrades<p> We read so much about the need for generation capacity these days that it's easy to ignore the fact that such capacity is useless if adequate grid connections are absent. This is a helpful reminder. <a href="https://www.edie.net/grid-upgrades-would-knock-trillions-off-of-net-zero-transition-costs-study-finds/?utm_content=Read%20more&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">Reposted from Edie</a>.</p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Grid upgrades would knock trillions off of net-zero transition costs, study finds</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Without significant efforts to scale grid infrastructure investments, nations will face a more expensive transition to net-zero as they will be forced to choose more costly energy security options like nuclear and biomass plants.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; 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font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Grid upgrades would knock trillions off of net-zero transition costs, study finds" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/UKGridSystem.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/UKGridSystem.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/UKGridSystem.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/UKGridSystem.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/UKGridSystem.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/UKGridSystem.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/https://edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/UKGridSystem.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /></div><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">That is according to <span style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.transitionzero.org/insights/interconnector-report-feo" style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">a new analysis from TransitionZero</a></span>, which estimates global savings of $3trn to result from concerted plans to modernise and scale grids through 2040 as an alternative to building more expensive solutions.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The estimate is based on modelling of power grids in 163 nations which collectively represent 99% of the global population.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In its model, TransitionZero assessed the likely impact of nations making additional transmission infrastructure investments totalling $1.7trn over the next 16 years. This funding would need to be allocated strategically to optimise outcomes.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">TransitionZero’s conclusion was that electricity costs could be cut by $3trn, with savings more than offsetting the spend.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">More than half of these savings (almost $1.6trn) would be realised in North America, which needs to at least double its grid capacity by 2040. This market also needs to reinforce existing cables as a matter of urgency.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Around $71bn of this investment would need to be made in Europe, the study found. This would lead to savings in excess of $350bn.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Elsewhere, the Middle East could see savings of more than $980bn and China could see savings of $557bn.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">China has been a leader in expanding and modernising its grid over the past ten years, accounting for a third of global transmission expansions. But it still needs to add a further 500GW of transmission and interconnector capacity to support its climate targets and energy security goals, according to TransitionZero.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">TransitionZero’s chief executive and co-founder Matthew Gray said: “Our main enemy is time – there’s no time for missteps. For climate targets to be met, the effective build-out of transmission infrastructure, underpinned by open data is critical.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Moreover, governments need to grasp that a decision not to invest in the grid, is a decision to build more expensive capacity, such as nuclear and biomass.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">International Energy Agency warning</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The news from TransitionZero comes shortly after <a href="https://www.edie.net/iea-annual-electricity-grid-investments-must-double-to-keep-1-5c-alive/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the International Energy Agency (IEA) published its own study into the need for electricity grid upgrades.</a></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The IEA concluded that investment in grids has “remained broadly stagnant” since the Paris Agreement was ratified in 2015, at around $300bn per year.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">This funding level will need to double to $600bn by 2030 if the world is to have any chance of delivering an energy transition aligned with <a href="https://www.edie.net/timeline-whats-included-in-the-ieas-new-net-zero-roadmap-for-energy/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C or ‘well-below’ 2C pathways</a>. Otherwise, renewable generation simply will not be able to come online rapidly enough, and sectors such as transport and heat will be too slow to electrify.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Some 1,500GW of renewable energy projects are already waiting for grid connections globally by the IEA’s estimates.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The IEA emphasised that regulatory reforms will be key to tackling this bottleneck and scaling grid investment.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Reforms are already underway in the UK, through collaboration between the Government, the National Infrastructure Commission, energy regulator Ofgem and grid operator National Grid.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/autumn-budget-chancellor-boasts-20bn-business-boost-and-outlines-grid-reform-measures-to-speed-renewables/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced this week</a> an ambition to halve the average project duration time for constructing transmission infrastructure, to seven years. To prevent local opposition from blocking these plans, homes near new infrastructure have been promised discounted energy bills.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Hunt also touted plans to reduce connection times for new power generation projects by 90%.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-36374083068489712232023-07-12T12:05:00.003+01:002023-07-12T12:05:53.331+01:00TerraCycle Zero Waste Bag - Nice Idea But Doubt It Will Fly<p> This is a <a href="https://www.edie.net/terracycle-launches-new-direct-to-consumer-bags-for-hard-to-recycle-plastics/?utm_content=Read%20more&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">nice idea</a> but at £25 a pop I have my doubts as to whether it's a goer.</p>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-9881337447841151242023-02-11T11:17:00.000+00:002023-02-11T11:17:20.461+00:00Green Investment and Innovation - Is There an Elephant in the Room?<p> <a href="https://www.edie.net/uks-clean-energy-investment-leadership-at-severe-risk-industry-warns-chancellor/?utm_content=Read%20more&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">Reposted from Edie</a>.</p><p>"Time is against us".</p><p>Sure is - but what about the stupidity of locking ourselves out of the huge market on our doorstep? The double whammy of Brexit has not only damaged our immediate economic situation; it has curtailed our opportunities in Europe. Expect the EU and America to profit at our expense.</p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">UK’s clean energy investment leadership ‘at severe risk’, industry warns Chancellor</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Without better incentives, support for small manufacturers and measures to streamline planning and development, the UK could miss out on the economic benefits of the global energy transition.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/energy/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">ENERGY</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="UK’s clean energy investment leadership ‘at severe risk’, industry warns Chancellor" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/OnshoreWindt.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/OnshoreWindt.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/OnshoreWindt.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/OnshoreWindt.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/OnshoreWindt.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/OnshoreWindt.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/OnshoreWindt.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">That is the warning to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt from five of the clean energy industry’s largest British trade bodies, collectively representing more than 750 organisations.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">RenewableUK, Energy UK, Scottish Renewables, the Nuclear Industry Association and Solar Energy UK have written to the Chancellor ahead of his Budget next month, setting out the sector’s economic contribution to the UK economy and the extent to which this contribution could grow on the road to net-zero by 2050.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.renewableuk.com/resource/resmgr/hmt_letter_-_capital_allowan.pdf" style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Their letter states</a> </span>that the sector invests some £13bn each year and returns some £30bn in gross value directly, plus a further £100bn in gross value through supply chains and partnerships. These figures should be far greater in the coming years as the UK works towards <a href="https://www.edie.net/uk-government-firms-up-100-clean-electricity-target-for-2035/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">a 100% clean electricity mix by 2035</a> and towards its legally binding long-term climate targets.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The key warning is that this growth is not guaranteed, but, rather, dependent on coherent, joined-up and ambitious action from policymakers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It states that, with the US and EU bringing forward major new subsidy packages and policy interventions to scale clean technologies in the coming years, “the UK can no longer take its competitive advantage as a mature market for granted”. The US’s Inflation Reduction Act, passed last year, offers $216bn worth of tax credits to clean energy and electric transport. <a href="https://www.edie.net/green-deal-industrial-plan-eu-readies-measures-to-rival-uss-cleantech-subsidy-package/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">The EU’s counter-measure, the Green Deal Industrial Plan, was set out broadly earlier this week,</a> with meetings to flesh it out scheduled for this month and next.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The letter contrasts the moves made by the US and EU to interventions made in the UK that have proven unpopular in the clean energy sector recently. It highlights how, at the same time as imposing a windfall tax on profits, <a href="https://www.edie.net/windfall-tax-could-rishi-sunaks-package-be-good-for-billpayers-but-bad-for-climate/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the UK Government launched a tax relief on investment for oil and gas firms</a>. The level of relief has been scaled back but, as of yet, no relief has been applied to clean power generators.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In contrast, Whitehall has moved to impose a temporary revenue cap on low-carbon generators. The cap was introduced because, due to the coupling of gas and electricity prices, low-carbon generators stood to reap excessive profits in 2022, just as fossil fuel firms did. The cap <a href="https://www.edie.net/renewables-sector-concerned-that-revenue-cap-sends-wrong-message-to-investors/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has proven unpopular with renewable industry bodies, who argue that it is offputting to investors.</a></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">These moves have been compounded, the letter warns, by “ inflation, unfavourable exchange rates, and rising costs of raw materials and labour”. The economic challenges facing the UK at present, it states, are being acurely felt by the smaller developers and supply chain companies that were already seeing “very small margins” pre-2020.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Energy UK’s chief executive Emma Pinchbeck said: “The investment climate for UK low-carbon generation has worsened over recent months. Increased costs and renewed international competition risk squandering the UK’s lead as a clean technology pioneer.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The Government must – at the very least – reform the capital allowances regime to keep investment and industry here in the UK; we need this low carbon infrastructure to power our economy cheaply and get bills down in the long run.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Levelling up opportunity</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The letter states that the Spring Budget is an opportunity to rectify these challenges and create a more attractive clean energy investment market in the UK. <a href="https://www.edie.net/budget-will-include-measures-to-spur-low-carbon-industrial-growth-chancellor-vows/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Hunt has notably stated</a> that the Budget, due to be delivered in mid-March, will include measures to encourage innovation in cleantech and to address looming green skills gaps.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">On Budget day, the letter’s signatories would like Hunt to confirm tax-free investment allowances for clean energy developers that “level the playing field” with fossil fuels. They are also calling for a reform of the sector’s capital allowance regime, enhancing allowances. The letter argues that this is a “tangible” step that would “do more to persuade investors than the promises of a future plan for economic growth”.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/uks-clean-energy-investment-ranking-drops-as-germany-pulls-ahead/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">EY’s most recent global ranking of clean energy investment markets by their attractiveness</a> placed the UK at fourth, down one place from the previous edition. The US and China held their top spots while Germany overtook the UK. EY stated that, while the UK made bold promises to scale offshore wind, Germany supports a broader range of renewables and had been even bolder.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The new letter emphasises how, by attracting clean energy investment, the UK can deliver on its levelling up commitments. It reminds the Chancellor that existing jobs are “in every corner of the country”, including “in the communities than need them most”. Losing these jobs would be a levelling up failure, while scaling these sectors presents new opportunities for skilled, well-paid jobs outside of London and the South East.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The letter recalls the levelling up sentiments <a href="https://www.edie.net/net-zero-review-a-timeline-of-what-green-policies-need-to-happen-and-when/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">made by MP Chris Skidmore in presenting the results of his landmark Net-Zero Review last month.</a> The review was commissioned under Liz Truss, setting out measures to ensure the UK’s net-zero transition is “pro-business, pro-growth” and pro-levelling up.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Any delay or shortfall in ambition will mean that our climate targets, and the economic opportunities they offer, will be increasingly hard to realise,” the letter concludes. “Time is against us and we cannot afford to get this wrong”.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-83944768314610068592023-02-11T11:05:00.003+00:002023-02-11T11:18:34.484+00:00Reforming the Electricity Market - Would One Really Wish to Start from here?<p> <a href="https://www.edie.net/poor-electricity-market-design-landed-brits-with-7bn-in-additional-energy-costs-during-2021-2022/?utm_content=Read%20more&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">Reposted from Edie</a>.</p><p>I guess more tinkering is all we can expect. With electricity being, possibly, the ultimate fungible commodity dare one suggest that a "competitive market" model is not the best way to tackle things? This is especially true when it comes to investment in new nuclear stations (which, in my view, will be an absolute necessity). One has only to think back to the debacle of the initial privatisation of the electricity generation sector to see the genesis of the current mess.</p><p>Hey ho!</p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Poor electricity market design ‘landed Brits with £7bn in additional energy costs during 2021-2022′ </span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The fact that the UK links all of its electricity prices to wholesale gas prices – including electricity generated by renewables and nuclear – resulted in £7.2bn of extra costs for homes and businesses in 2021 and 2022, making the cost-of-living crisis worse. </span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Poor electricity market design ‘landed Brits with £7bn in additional energy costs during 2021-2022′ " class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EnergyBillsWorry.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EnergyBillsWorry.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EnergyBillsWorry.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EnergyBillsWorry.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EnergyBillsWorry.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EnergyBillsWorry.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/EnergyBillsWorry.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">That is the conclusion of <span style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://carbontracker.org/reports/marginal-call/" style="border: 0px; color: green; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">new analysis from think-tank Carbon Tracker</a> </span>this week, assessing the ways in which the UK’s energy market design could be altered to protect energy consumers from spikes in gas prices – especially as gas decreases its share in the electricity generation mix in the decades to come.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The organisation’s ‘Marginal Call’ report comes as the UK Government continues the long process of implementing its Review of Energy Market Arrangements (REMA), badged as the biggest shake-up to energy market design in a generation. Initial REMA consultations <a href="https://www.edie.net/customers-set-to-pay-less-for-renewable-electricity-as-uk-plans-biggest-electricity-market-reform-in-a-generation/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">opened last summer</a> and the progress of the review has doubtless been slowed by two changes in Prime Minister since its launch.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Under the REMA, the Government is proposing measures to de-couple global wholesale gas prices from wholesale electricity prices for electricity generated in the UK. This link, it has been argued, is becoming less and less sensible as Britain brings more renewable electricity generation capacity online and seeks to close the impending nuclear gap. The UK is <a href="https://www.edie.net/from-renewables-to-fossil-fuels-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-uks-energy-security-strategy/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">seeking to host</a> 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 and aiming for at least 25% of home-grown electricity generation to hail from nuclear by 2050.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Carbon Tracker welcomes this price decoupling move in its new report. It summarises how the UK consistently paid the second-highest spot prices for electricity during 2021 and 2022, partly due to this coupling of pricing. Only Italy, which uses marginal pricing itself, saw steeper price spikes.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The report states that when net UK power procurement expenditure in 2021 and 2022 is compared to what it could have been without marginal pricing, the difference is around £7.2bn.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Nonetheless, Carbon Tracker is advocating against a “complete change in market design” for electricity pricing. It emphasises the importance of maintaining and growing investor confidence in renewables and other energy transition activities in the coming years, given the UK’s <a href="https://www.edie.net/uk-government-firms-up-100-clean-electricity-target-for-2035/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">commitment to ending unabated fossil-fuelled electricity generation by 2035</a>, along with its 2050 net-zero commitment and supporting carbon budgets.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Carbon Tracker is instead calling for less bold changes to marginal pricing, coupled with other measures to protect electricity prices from future gas price spikes which can “skew” them. It floats the idea of new hedging obligations on utilities for their future fuel requirements. Under hedging obligations, generators agree to sell their future output at a set price, typically the price on the table for generation when the agreement is struck. This would prevent utilities from hiking prices and passing this on to consumers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CfD reform</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Additionally, Carbon Tracker recommends sweeping changes to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction scheme, which supports low-carbon generators by agreeing that they will receive a fixed, pre-agreed price for 15 years of generation. Generators sell their electricity into the market as usual and, when the market price is below the agreed ‘strike price’, they receive a top-up from the Government.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Government has moved <a href="https://www.edie.net/government-to-rollout-cfd-auctions-annually-to-boost-renewables-deployment/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">to increase the frequency of CfD auctions</a> and to <a href="https://www.edie.net/most-successful-ever-latest-cfd-auction-secures-11gw-of-renewables-capacity/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">broaden the eligibility criteria to different kinds of generation</a>. Carbon Tracker wants to see further changes, namely measures to base top-up payments on eligible firms’ combined overall revenue streams.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Such a move could be an alternative to the current temporary revenue cap on low-carbon generators. The cap was introduced because, due to the coupling of gas and electricity prices, low-carbon generators stood to reap excessive profits in 2022, just as fossil fuel firms did. The cap <a href="https://www.edie.net/renewables-sector-concerned-that-revenue-cap-sends-wrong-message-to-investors/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has proven unpopular with renewable industry bodies, who argue that it is offputting to investors.</a></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The report also concludes that the CfD process should either be opened to – or replicated for – battery storage, demand response and green hydrogen.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Carbon Tracker’s analysis is timely, given that anglo-Dutch energy major Shell has this week reported record annual profits of almost $40bn globally – more than a 100% increase year-on-year. Critics in the UK are heaping pressure on the Government to increase tax on companies like Shell beyond the agreed windfall tax level and to further scale back tax-free allowances for energy majors. Shell has countered by stating that only a small minority of its profits (less than 5%) were made via UK activity.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The government’s windfall tax only applies to profits made from extracting oil and gas in the UK. The rate was originally set at 25%, but was subsequently increased to 35%. This, combined with their corporation tax and supplementary rate, means these firms should have as total tax rate of 75%. But companies can and do significantly reduce tax by factoring in losses, decommissioning spending and tax-free allowances.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-73665847501381908782023-01-26T13:58:00.000+00:002023-01-26T13:58:00.794+00:00Another Email to my MP: Tackling Short-termism<p> Dear Ms Richardson,</p>
<br />
Thank you for this response <i>[about the proposed Cumbria coal mine] </i>which I am sure you will not be
surprised to read I find deeply disappointing. The creation of just
532 jobs at the expense of releasing in the order of 0.4Mt CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span>e/yr for decades I consider to be an equation
that is well out of balance.<br />
<br />
However, it is not the mine that is my focus in this email; rather
it is the inherent (and not surprising) short-termism behind much
legislative decision making. It seems to me that there is a need for
mechanisms to ensure that all public bodies, especially including
government, take into account the long-term impact of their
decisions. Considering climate change, for instance, it is our
children and our children's children, who will suffer or otherwise
from actions being made today. The Well-being of Future Generations
(Wales) Act 2015 is an example of such a mechanism.<br />
<br />
May I urge you to pursue, at every possible occasion, a similar
mechanism to cover the entirety of the UK?<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
<br />
Richard BawdenRichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-3378047025235261792023-01-24T15:11:00.002+00:002023-01-24T15:11:50.528+00:00Fossil Fuel Industry - A Business MOdel At Odds With Human Survival<p> Guterres equate big oil with tobacco for wilfully ignoring the messages of science. This <a href="https://energyindemand.com/2023/01/20/at-davos-un-secretary-general-critical-of-fossil-fuel-industry-of-refusing-to-abandon-a-business-model-at-odds-with-human-survival/" target="_blank">reposted from EiD</a>, itself reposting from the Guardian</p><p><br /></p><header class="entry-header" style="color: #383838; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 13.3px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #006633; font-family: Vollkorn, serif; font-size: 1.54em; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">At Davos, UN Secretary General critical of fossil fuel industry of refusing to abandon a business model at odds with human survival</span></h1></header><div class="entry-meta" style="color: #b3b3b1; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.4375em 0px 3.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="byline" style="clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; margin-right: 1.3125em; margin-top: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 3px; vertical-align: middle; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"> <a href="https://energyindemand.com/author/rodjanssen/" rel="author" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;" title="Posts by Rod Janssen">Rod Janssen</a></span></span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span class="cat-links" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 1.3125em; top: 3px; vertical-align: middle;"> <a href="https://energyindemand.com/tag/carbon-emissions/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">carbon emissions</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/tag/clean-energy/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">clean energy</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/tag/climate-change/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">climate change</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/climate-risk/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">climate risk</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/climate-science/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">climate science</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/decarbonisation/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">decarbonisation</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/energy-transition/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">energy transition</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/tag/ghg-emissions/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">GHG emissions</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/impact/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">impact</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/tag/industry/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">industry</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/sustainable-development-2/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">Sustainable development</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/tag/sustainable-energy/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">sustainable energy</a></span> <span class="published-on" style="display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; top: 3px; vertical-align: middle;"> <time class="entry-date published updated" datetime="2023-01-20T16:16:43+01:00">January 20, 2023</time></span></span></div><div class="entry-content" style="color: #383838; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 13.3px; margin: 0px 0px 0.875em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><em>The Secretary General has really taken the lead to work at every angle to get climate change policies on track to meet our Paris climate agreement. At COP27, he was very vocal, thankfully. This week Mr. Guterres was at Davos, criticising big companies that, ‘like the tobacco industry’, ride roughshod over their own science. Larry Elliot discusses events this week in an article on The Guardian website</em>.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"> </span></p><h2 style="color: #333332; font-family: Vollkorn, serif; font-size: 21.7px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.4375em; margin-top: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-weight: 700;">UN head accuses fossil fuel firms of business models ‘inconsistent with human survival’</span></h2><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The head of the United Nations has accused the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies of refusing to abandon a business model at odds with human survival despite knowingly putting the world on course for a climate meltdown decades ago.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Speaking at the Davos summit of business and political leaders, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, launched a strong attack on the world’s leading oil companies, many of which are represented at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting at the Swiss resort.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Guterres said recent revelations that ExxonMobil knew back in the 1970s that its core product was “baking our planet”, made “big oil” similar to the tobacco companies that knew smoking led to cancer.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Just like the tobacco industry, they rode roughshod over their own science. Big Oil peddled the big lie … And like the tobacco industry, those responsible must be held to account,” he said.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Today, fossil fuel producers and their enablers are still racing to expand production, knowing full well that their business model is inconsistent with human survival. This insanity belongs in science fiction, yet we know the ecosystem meltdown is cold, hard scientific fact.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The need to step up progress in the global battle to prevent a rise in temperature of more than 1.5C has been one of the themes of the Davos meeting but the head of the UN said many of the pledges made by companies to achieve net zero carbon amounted to greenwashing.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Guterres said achieving the climate goals agreed by the international community required the full engagement of the private sector, and acknowledged that more and more businesses were making net zero commitments.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“But benchmarks and criteria are often dubious or murky. This misleads consumers, investors and regulators with false narratives. It feeds a culture of climate misinformation and confusion. And it leaves the door wide open to greenwashing.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Corporate leaders should put forward credible and transparent plans to achieve net zero by the end of the year, the UN head said, adding that reliance on carbon credits did not amount to “real” emission cuts.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Soaring energy prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to some countries stepping up the use of coal as a substitute for expensive gas but Guterres warned that the world was in a race against time to curb carbon emissions.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The battle to keep the 1.5-degree limit alive will be won or lost in this decade. On our watch. My friends, right now it is being lost.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“We must act together to close the emissions gap. To phase out coal and supercharge the renewable revolution. To end the addiction to fossil fuels. And to stop our self-defeating war on nature.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em; outline: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Guterres said restoring trust meant “meaningful climate action”, as he urged rich countries to fulfil their $100bn climate finance commitment to help developing nations – facing the brunt of the climate emergency – to cope with the crisis.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Adaptation finance must be doubled. And the biggest emitters – namely G20 countries – must unite around a climate solidarity pact in which they make extra efforts in the 2020s to keep the 1.5-degree limit alive.”</span></p></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-73785587439315570002023-01-24T15:04:00.001+00:002023-01-24T15:04:25.151+00:00UK Missing All Key Nature Targets<p> This <a href="https://www.edie.net/a-concerning-picture-uk-still-set-to-miss-every-key-nature-target-watchdog-warns/?utm_content=%E2%80%98A%20concerning%20picture%E2%80%99%3A%20UK%20still%20set%20to%20miss%20every%20key%20nature%20target%2C%20watchdog%20warns&utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=AdestraCampaign" target="_blank">repost from Edie</a> just about sums up post-Brexit Britain. </p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">‘A concerning picture’: UK still set to miss every key nature target, watchdog warns</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The UK’s post-Brexit environment watchdog has unveiled its assessment of work to improve nature in England over the past year, concluding that progress is off track for all 23 environmental targets it assessed.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/climate-nature/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">CLIMATE & NATURE</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="‘A concerning picture’: UK still set to miss every key nature target, watchdog warns" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/LondonGeeseDucks.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/LondonGeeseDucks.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/LondonGeeseDucks.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/LondonGeeseDucks.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/LondonGeeseDucks.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/LondonGeeseDucks.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/LondonGeeseDucks.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /><p class="caption" style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">A decline in species abundance is confirmed, as is stagnant progress in improving water quality. Stock image, picturing Walthamstow</span></p></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">According to the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), there has been year-on-year improvement in some areas relating to the UK Government’s key environmental goals, including improving air quality; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving climate adaptation.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Nonetheless, the rate of progress has not been rapid enough to put England on track to meet <a href="https://www.edie.net/weak-and-unambitious-green-groups-criticise-defras-legally-binding-environment-targets/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">new legally binding targets</a> – even though these targets, in and of themselves, have been broadly criticised as unambitious. That is the conclusion of the OEP’s latest report, out today (19 January).</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The OEP also documented how, on the whole, signs of “encouraging progress” are “the exception” rather than the rule. The report states that the watchdog could not concluded that there have been any improved outcomes, nationally, on enhanced water quality, improved biosecurity or helping plants and wildlife to ‘thrive’.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">On the latter, it confirms a 17% decline in priority species abundance between 2013 and 2018 and an 82% decline in species abundance more widely between 1970 and 2018. The Environment Act targets species abundance in 2042 that is greater than 2022, and at least 10% greater than 2030. Critics of this target argue that it ignores the damage already done pre-2022.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Progress on waste, the OEP stated, has gone backwards. It confirms an increase in residual waste production per capita of 13% between 2014 and 2019. The Environment Act targets a 50% reduction by 2042, against a 2019 baseline, but the OEP’s findings prove that previous trends will need to be bucked to achieve this. They also raise questions on whether 2019 is an appropriate baseline year.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Backwards progress is also regarded in terms of water consumption, which is increasing rather than decreasing.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">OEP chair Dame Glenys Stacey summarised: “There have been recent improvements in air quality and people’s engagement with nature, as Covid lockdowns changed the way we live our lives. But many extremely worrying environmental trends remain unchecked, including a chronic decline in species abundance.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Using the data and information available, our assessment shows that the current pace and scale of action will not deliver the changes necessary to significantly improve the environment in England. But there is clear opportunity to change course.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Environment Improvement Plan recommendations</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The report states that the Government can sieze this opportunity through good design of its next Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which is due for publication later next year.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Rather than recommending specific targets, the OEP has set out attributes which it believes an effective EIP should include, beyond strong top-line visions that are aptly broken down.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">These include measures to improve coordination across government departments and different levels of government; measures to improve data collection and collation and improved governance. The OEP also wants the Government to improve its methods of assessing progress, enabling it to notice adverse trends and assess the cause as a priority.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Additionally, it wants assessment regimes that look more into the future, bridging the gap between short-term EIPs and the 25-Year Environment Plan.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">edie reached out to Defra and the department said it would carefully consider the OEP’s recommendations. It also confirmed that the new EIP will be “delivery-focussed”.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Green economy reaction</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Environmental Audit Committee’s chair Philip Dunne MP said the OEP’s report presents a “concerning picture” with its “unflinching analysis of the current situation”.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">He said: “It is deeply disappointing that progress against so many crucial targets is falling short of what is needed to secure nature recovery. We face a nature and climate emergency and the importance of restoring nature cannot be overestimated.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Two years ago, the Committee’s report on biodiversity and ecosystems stressed the importance of engaging people with the natural world around them. It is encouraging that the OEP has identified improvements in this area. But these alone are not enough.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“In its refreshed EIP, due to be published shortly, the Government has the opportunity to set clear and ambitious – but achievable – targets to address the worrying decline of nature. I look forward to being able to quiz Ministers on how they intend to deliver on their assurances that they will be leaving the environment in a better state than that in which they found it.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Similarly, Wildlife and Countryside link’s chief executive Richard Benwell called the report “a clear warning that rapid, concerted action and investment is needed across Government to deliver the big green promise of halting the decline of nature by 2030”.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">This promise was ratified by the UK and dozens of other nations at the UN’s most recent biodiversity COP in Montreal last month.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Benwell added: “To halt the decline of nature, the days of fluffy wish lists, and back-of-the-settee funding for nature policy must end. The EIP needs scientifically sound delivery plans to stop the decline in wildlife, backed by the funding to make it happen.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Of course, that means getting the whole of Government pressing in the same direction. Defra can’t make a success of restoring nature while DLUHC dallies on planning reform, and while BEIS presses ahead with the destructive deregulatory agenda of the Retained EU Law Bill. The Prime Minister should sponsor the EIP and rally the whole of Government to deliver it.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/bonfire-of-retained-eu-environmental-laws-could-deliver-82bn-blow-to-the-uk/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Wildlife and Countryside Link published a report this week along with other environmental NGOs</a> stating that the Retained EU Law Bill could cost the UK economy more than £82bn over a 30-year period. The Bill, in its current guise, would “sunset” the majority of regulations retained as part of the withdrawal process from the EU that expire at the end of the year. Many green groups believe this would be too swift a process to ensure that environmental standards are not at least upheld.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Aldersgate Group’s head of public affairs and communications Signe Norberg added: “While the 25 Year Environment Plan set out Government’s long-term vision for the environment, the report is clear: more coordination is needed to restore and reverse the decline of nature. Government now has the opportunity to build on its vision and publish an ambitious and robust environmental improvement plan at the end of the month, featuring better alignment and coordination at all levels of Government, including local and national government.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“A comprehensive and detailed plan would ensure business can commit tangible investments towards nature restoration. Ambitious and clear long-term as well as interim targets – supported by a detailed delivery plan and a whole-of-government vision for the environment – will create a stable framework within which the private sector can invest. It will enable them to accelerate and implement their own plans to address the nature crisis, as well as create new markets and generate jobs across the country.”</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-10739477065086977142023-01-18T12:39:00.000+00:002023-01-18T12:39:14.722+00:00<p> The Retained EU Law Bill is another case of "have gun, have foot, shoot". The nonsense of the Northern Ireland Protocol has demonstrated the problems that can and will arise from pig-headed Brexit-derived ideology. </p><p>This is <a href="https://www.edie.net/bonfire-of-retained-eu-environmental-laws-could-deliver-82bn-blow-to-the-uk/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Bonfire%20of%20retained%20EU%20environmental%20laws%20could%20deliver%20%C2%A382bn%20blow%20to%20the%20UK" target="_blank">reposted from Edie</a>:</p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Bonfire of retained EU environmental laws could deliver £82bn blow to the UK</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">A new report from a collection of UK charities and NGOs has warned that removing or weakening environmental laws retained from the EU could cost the UK economy more than £82bn over a 30-year period.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/policy/" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; 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transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Matt Mace">Matt Mace</a></span></p><p class="date no-pd-top no-pd-btm" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Published <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">18th January 2023</span></span></p></div></div></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Bonfire of retained EU environmental laws could deliver £82bn blow to the UK" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PotatoFarmsUK.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PotatoFarmsUK.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PotatoFarmsUK.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PotatoFarmsUK.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PotatoFarmsUK.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PotatoFarmsUK.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/PotatoFarmsUK.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /><p class="caption" style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The report warns that deregulated chemicals and agriculture practices would harm the natural environment</span></p></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">A new report, <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wcl.org.uk%2Flink-publications.asp&data=05%7C01%7CMattMace%40fav-house.com%7C2ab16612cd5b40b4f90108daf88d91d8%7C5faa4269d37a4c5d9c1a37ecfe512c9a%7C0%7C0%7C638095584159780446%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hzI%2Bc1oU5R29EUnRww%2FvQjVU36Q8K22HfpSRyYoJDpA%3D&reserved=0" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">The economic costs of the Retained EU Law Bill</a>, from groups including the Wildlife and Countryside Link by the Economics for the Environment Consultancy has investigated the potential economic impact that the REUL Bill could have if environmental laws are weakened across chemical regulation, water pollution, air quality and habitats.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Bill is to be debated in the House of Commons on today (18 January) and if passed would “sunset” the majority of regulations retained as part of the withdrawal process from the EU that expire at the end of the year.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The new report from green groups argues that removing or weakening existing legislation across key environmental sectors could further destroy nature, worsen public health and incur costs of £82.94bn over the next 30 years.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The research warns that losing the Water Framework Directive standards would likely lead to increased levels of agricultural pollutants flowing into water streams, which would increase the wastewater and sewage that is then pumped back into the natural environment. The report warns of a <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">£20.6bn cost over the next 30 years</span>.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The report also warns that poorer air quality levels could costs <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">£10.4bn over the next five years, rising to £44.9bn over 30 years</span>. It states that weakening the National Emission Ceilings Regulations through the Retained EU Law Bill would impact health and the environment.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">An additional <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">£1bn could be lost due to weaker protections for key nature sites</span>, whereby deregulation and the weakening of Habitat Regulations would see <a href="https://www.edie.net/?s=UK+biodiversity" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">key biodiversity hotspots</a> degraded or even destroyed. This would also jeopardise the UK’s net-zero ambitions.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The final sector analysed is that of chemicals. The report warns that <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">£12.8bn will be lost market opportunities from weakened chemical regulation over 30 years.</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It states that there are “huge business opportunities” for the UK in the recycled packaging sector, for example, but that weakening chemicals regulation diminishes the potential returns and will see businesses in key sectors miss out financially. Additionally, weakened chemicals regulation could cost £<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.6bn over 30 years </span>as adverse health impacts such as cancer and infertility become more common.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The report notes that the REUL Bill covers thousands of other retained EU laws, meaning the overall costs are likely to be far higher.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Wildlife and Countryside Link’s chief executive Dr Richard Benwell said: “Prevention of air and water pollution, protection of precious wildlife and habitats, precautions against hazardous chemical use – they are all put at risk by the Retained EU Law Bill. If long-standing protection for nature is removed or weakened, the economic consequences could run into the billions.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Add to this the costs of years of uncertainty while half the environmental statute book is up in the air and thousands of hours of civil service time spent reviewing laws simply because of where they came from. All together, the costs of this economic and environmental wrecking ball bill could be astronomical at a time when the UK – and our environment – can least afford it.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The green groups also warn that weakening of the <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislation.gov.uk%2Fuksi%2F2017%2F1012%2Fcontents%2Fmade&data=05%7C01%7CMattMace%40fav-house.com%7C2ab16612cd5b40b4f90108daf88d91d8%7C5faa4269d37a4c5d9c1a37ecfe512c9a%7C0%7C0%7C638095584159780446%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vIM230nvSp2eeOtE8ZknkOPuJUiEAqhPDZhA9QfrhzY%3D&reserved=0" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Habitats and Species Regulations</a> could see important nature sites chosen for “unsustainable development projects”, while weakening the <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislation.gov.uk%2Fuksi%2F2010%2F1627%2Fcontents%2Fmade&data=05%7C01%7CMattMace%40fav-house.com%7C2ab16612cd5b40b4f90108daf88d91d8%7C5faa4269d37a4c5d9c1a37ecfe512c9a%7C0%7C0%7C638095584159780446%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PZZDmQBiy0%2FiR9pm%2F%2BjJZrXtwdhUIlcIiSoWP5li8VI%3D&reserved=0" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Marine Strategy Regulations</a>, could lead to a decline in habitats including seagrass meadows and saltmarshes – both of which act as carbon stores and would further derail the net-zero movement if destroyed.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The report and the campaigners backing it are calling for the Bill to be withdrawn.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunset scares</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Prime Minister Rishi Sunak campaigned on promises to ensure that UK law diverges from EU law in instances where this could create higher standards and economic benefits. Under Truss, the Government ushered in the Retained Law Bill, which is designed to ensure that the majority of EU laws retained in the UK post-Brexit expire at the end of 2023. The rest of the laws should then be phased out by June 2026.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Bill was swiftly criticised by green groups who claimed that hasty changes could lead to a downgrade in environmental and social standards. Moreover, delivering the Bill, some have argued, would redirect civil service resource from progressing the pressing changes to legislation needed to meet key climate and nature targets, following years of delays already.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) itself <a href="https://www.edie.net/uks-environment-watchdog-warns-of-rushed-review-of-eu-green-laws/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has now warned</a> the Government against a rushed approach to ‘sunsetting’ EU legislation. It is recommending that the 2023 deadline is moved.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The RSPB’s director of conservation, Katie-jo Luxton said: “This new economic report shows that the REUL Bill could cost the taxpayer more than £1bn over the next 30 years simply by opening the door to a weakening of current environmental protections. Having just published legally binding targets for nature recovery through its own Environment Act, it is baffling that the UK Government is now seeking to dismantle the legal protections to achieve them.”</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-29823330980697468842023-01-18T12:27:00.001+00:002023-01-18T12:27:25.447+00:00Oil CEO to lead COP28!!<p> This really takes the biscuit. </p><p><a href="https://energyindemand.com/2023/01/13/uae-names-oil-chief-to-lead-cop28-climate-change-talks/" target="_blank">Reposted from EiD</a>, which was a repost from the <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cop28-president-ceo-adnoc-oil-b2260792.html" target="_blank">Independent.</a></p><p><br /></p><header class="entry-header" style="color: #383838; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 13.3px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #006633; font-family: Vollkorn, serif; font-size: 1.54em; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">UAE names oil chief to lead COP28 climate change talks</span></h1></header><div class="entry-meta" style="color: #b3b3b1; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.4375em 0px 3.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="byline" style="clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; margin-right: 1.3125em; margin-top: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 3px; vertical-align: middle; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"> <a href="https://energyindemand.com/author/rodjanssen/" rel="author" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;" title="Posts by Rod Janssen">Rod Janssen</a></span></span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span class="cat-links" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 1.3125em; top: 3px; vertical-align: middle;"> <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/climate-change/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">climate change</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/climate-policy/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">climate policy</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/global-policy/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">global policy</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/international-co-operation/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">international co-operation</a>, <a href="https://energyindemand.com/category/international-organisations-3/" rel="category tag" style="color: #b3b3b1; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.14s ease-in-out 0s;">international organisations</a></span> <span class="published-on" style="display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; top: 3px; vertical-align: middle;"> <time class="entry-date published updated" datetime="2023-01-13T14:22:57+01:00">January 13, 2023</time></span></span></div><div class="entry-content" style="color: #383838; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 13.3px; margin: 0px 0px 0.875em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px;"><em style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The head of one of the world’s biggest oil companies has been named to lead the COP28 global climate talks in Dubai, later this year. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber is currently the chief executive officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. He is also the minister for industry and advanced technology for the United Arab Emirates. Samuel Webb writes on The Independent website about the reaction to his appointment.</em></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"> </span></p><h2 style="color: #333332; font-family: Vollkorn, serif; font-size: 21.7px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.4375em; margin-top: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-weight: 700;">New Cop28 president is CEO of oil company</span></h2><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The President of Cop28 is the CEO of one of the world’s largest oil companies and has been branded a ‘climate criminal’ by Green MP Caroline Lucas.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Dr Sultan Al Jaber is the group chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), as well as the United Arab Emirate’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. He has been appointed President of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, which will take place in Dubai in November.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">ADNOC produces more than four million barrels of oil per day and around 11.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas. As founding CEO of Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy firm Masdar, in which ADNOC has a 24% stake, Jaber has overseen its mandate to adopt renewables in the UAE.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Green MP Caroline Lucas told The Independent: “The climate criminal CEO of a super-wealthy, super-dirty Emirate oil company should be nowhere near the vicinity of any climate conference, let alone presiding over one. Climate-wrecking fossil fuel companies like ADNOC have got away with polluting our planet for far too long, leaving the damage and destruction at our door, escaping with billions of profits, and then greenwashing us into submission.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The fossil fuel era is over. If COP28 is going to bring us any closer to tackling the climate emergency and securing a liveable future, this conference needs a president free of any dirty fossil fuel ties.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In September Dr Al Jaber told the National: “Even in a net zero emissions world, energy security requires that oil and gas be part of the mix.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“We have a responsibility to the billions of people of the world to ensure they have access to energy.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">He added: “You need to maintain the current system, while the world still relies on it [and] drive down its emissions, while driving up investment in new energies.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Innovative climate action, which involves the fast adoption of renewable energy and other low-carbon sources, has the potential to provide long-lasting energy security. But we are not there yet.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Chiara Liguori, Amnesty International’s Climate Advisor, said Sultan al-Jaber’s appointment sends the “wrong signal” to people most affected by climate change.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“It is also a disappointing selection for all those hoping COP28 will offer swift progress on reducing carbon emissions and delivering climate justice,” she added.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.875em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The fact that the UAE is a major oil producer does not bode well for the outcome of COP28, and the appointment of the head of the national oil company will heighten concerns that the UAE will use its presidency of the climate conference to foster fossil fuel interests.</span></p></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-55609448896732821392023-01-18T12:15:00.004+00:002023-01-18T12:15:55.731+00:00FoE to Challenge HMG over Whitehaven Mine<p> Good!</p><p><a href="https://www.edie.net/cumbria-coal-mine-uk-government-to-face-legal-challenge-from-friends-of-the-earth/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Read%20more" target="_blank">Reposted from Edie</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Cumbria coal mine: UK Government to face legal challenge from Friends of the Earth</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Friends of the Earth has today (4 January) confirmed that it will legally challenge the UK Government’s decision to approve permission for a new deep coal mine near Whitehaven, Cumbria.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/energy/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">ENERGY</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Cumbria coal mine: UK Government to face legal challenge from Friends of the Earth" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/CumbriaCoalProtests.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/CumbriaCoalProtests.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/CumbriaCoalProtests.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/CumbriaCoalProtests.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/CumbriaCoalProtests.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/CumbriaCoalProtests.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/CumbriaCoalProtests.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /><p class="caption" style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Pictured: Supporters of several environmental groups collaboratively protesting the mine. Image: Friends of the Earth</span></p></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Cumbria County Council initially approved West Cumbria Mining’s proposals for the project in October 2020. However, the decision was called in by the UK Government in early 2021 on the grounds of the potential climate impact of the use of the extracted coal. Ministers asked for a full assessment of the mine’s compatibility with national and international climate targets.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Government permission for the proposals <a href="https://www.edie.net/outrage-as-uks-first-deep-coal-mine-in-more-than-30-years-approved-by-government/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">was granted last month</a>. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove had the final say on the decision, which he made after a string of delays amid two consecutive changes in Prime Minister.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Coal extracted from the mine will be used for steelmaking in the UK and abroad, with around 85% of extracted coal set to be exported. In approving the project, Gove stated his “satisfaction” that there is currently a market for coal in steelmaking in the UK and EU and that there will continue to be as work towards 2050 net-zero targets progresses. Gove stated that he is not a believer in a “compelling case” for electric arc furnaces or direct hydrogen reduction to displace coal in steelmaking, despite investment in these technologies by major steelmakers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Additionally, the conclusion was that the mine would not increase global emissions, because coal extracted would displace the use of coal extracted elsewhere.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Climate campaigners and steel industry experts have questioned these claims. Another cause of dispute is Gove’s assertion that the mine could be ‘net-zero’ in operation through the use of offsetting schemes. Offset certification provider Gold Standard <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/net-zero-coal-mine-cumbria-gold-standard-condemned-carbon-climate-chan-1191140" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has publicly stated</a> that this is not a credible approach.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Friends of the Earth is one of the organisations which has criticised the proposals from West Cumbria Mining at every step in the journey. The environmental NGO has today confirmed that it will file a legal claim against the UK Government later this month, on the grounds that the climate impact of the mine has not been thoroughly assessed and that the project is incompatible with the UK’s legally binding emissions target.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Lawyers from Leigh Day Solicitors and the Landmark and Matrix Chambers have been lined up to represent Friends of the Earth if the court decides to hear the case.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“By giving the go-ahead to this polluting and totally unnecessary coal mine the government has not only made the wrong decision for our economy and the climate, we believe it has also acted unlawfully,” said Friends of the Earth lawyer Niall Toru.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“</span>Gove has failed to account for the significant climate impacts of this mine, or how the much-needed move to green steelmaking will be impacted by its approval. The steel industry is under no illusion that it must decarbonise if we’re to meet our climate goals, which calls into doubt the long-term viability of the mine and the jobs used to justify it.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Toru added that green groups “shouldn’t have to take this challenge to court” in a nation with a net-zero target, which has used its presence at UN climate summits to promote a global phase-out of coal in the power sector.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">South Lakes Action on Climate Change is also considering legal action against the Government over the approval of the mine but is yet to confirm that it will definitely do so. <a href="https://slacc.org.uk/legal-team-working-towards-challenge-of-coal-mine-decision/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">It wrote to Gove late last year</a> and is poised to submit a legal challenge within the next two weeks.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Net Zero Strategy</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Friends of the Earth won a legal challenge against the UK Government, concerning its flagship Net Zero Strategy, at the High Court last summer.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Strategy was produced in late 2021 as part of preparations for COP26 in Glasgow, with the Government promising a clear plan for all sectors of the economy. Critics of the Strategy have pointed out that it contains no time-bound, sector-specific emissions targets, and that the schemes it funds do not go far enough to decarbonise their respective sectors in line with climate science.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The High Court sided with Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth, ruling that the Strategy is unlawful. It gave the UK Government nine months to update the Strategy, which will bring us through to March 2023.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">By this point, Chris Skidmore MP’s net-zero review <a href="https://www.edie.net/uks-net-zero-review-recommendations-will-be-very-business-focused-beis-lead-confirms/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">will be complete</a> and the Government should be working on its detailed response to the resulting recommendations. This should form a good basis for updating the Strategy.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">edie’s own <a href="https://www.edie.net/edies-net-zero-business-barometer/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Net-Zero Business Barometer survey</a> of 148 energy and sustainability professionals, conducted online in September and October, revealed that most of these professionals are very keen for the Government to update the Strategy as a priority. 59% of respondents classed this move as a top-three </span><span style="background-color: white;">priority for policymakers.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-5140742443893464892023-01-18T12:06:00.003+00:002023-01-18T12:06:52.819+00:00My MP's Justification for the Whitehaven Coalmine - Hogwash<p> This is my MP's response to my email to her deploring the Whitehaven coalmine. It's utter self-serving hogwash:</p><p>Dear Richard ,</p><p>Thank you for contacting me about the called-in planning decision for a new metallurgical coal mine in Cumbria. </p><p> I completely understand that there are strong views on both sides of this case. A public inquiry was held on the proposed development, giving all parties the opportunity to put their case before an independent inspector. </p><p> The independent planning inspector's report has been considered in depth by the Levelling Up Secretary, who has decided to approve planning permission on the proposed coal mine. His reasons for the decision are set out in full in the following letter, which you may wish to read: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1122625/22-12-07_Whitehaven_-_Decision_Letter_and_IR.pdf </p><p> First, I would like to stress that the coking coal extracted from the mine will not be used for energy. The Government remains firmly committed to its goal of eliminating unabated coal-power generation by 2024. Coal’s share of the UK’s energy supply has already fallen from 40 per cent in 2012 to 1.8 per cent in 2020. Furthermore, there is a commitment to ensuring the proposed development is net zero over its whole lifetime, which would make it the only net zero metallurgical coking coal mine in the world.</p><p> Having looked over the inspector’s report, I am assured that the mine would not cause any unacceptable impacts on ecology or result in a net loss of biodiversity. The proposed development itself would have an overall neutral effect on climate change, taking into account all the mitigation. </p><p> The inspector’s report highlights that all the scenarios and forecasts for the future use of coking coal which were put before the inquiry demonstrated a continued demand for coking coal for a number of decades to come. Coking coal also has a vital role to play in the steel industry’s transition to climate neutrality, as noted by international partners such as the European Commission.</p><p> I firmly support the creation of new jobs, and therefore take note of the fact that the mine will directly create 532 jobs. These will be high-skilled well-paid jobs, with many of the skills acquired likely to be inter-transferable to other industries. I know that these contributions to the local and regional economy are important factors for local people. </p><p> While I appreciate that my position will not please everyone, I do hope that this response has highlighted why I am satisfied that the Secretary of State has made the right decision. </p><p> Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. </p><p> Best wishes,</p><p> Angela Richardson MP</p><div>Let's look at one or two of her statements:</div><div><br /></div><div>"First, I would like to stress that the coking coal extracted from the mine will not be used for energy." So what? It will be combusted thereby releasing CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span>. That is the central issue here.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Furthermore, there is a commitment to ensuring the proposed development is net zero over its whole lifetime". Again, this misses the point. The end-to-end result will be CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span> emissions, there's no getting away from that. Making one part of the chain net zero (which is a big ask in the first place) is a specious "benefit".</div><div><br /></div><div> "The inspector’s report highlights that all the scenarios and forecasts for the future use of coking coal which were put before the inquiry demonstrated a continued demand for coking coal for a number of decades to come." This is not an argument <u>for</u> Whitehaven. Far better to push the economics towards alternative energy sources for steel production than to facilitate continuation of current processes.</div><div><br /></div><div>" I firmly support the creation of new jobs, and therefore take note of the fact that the mine will directly create 532 jobs." Perhaps promoting renewables industries in the area might have been a better bet? That would be true "levelling up". The children and grandchildren of those 532 workers will suffer the consequences of climate change for many years. Short-termism wins out again!!</div><p><br /></p>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-55933231338621795082023-01-18T11:28:00.001+00:002023-01-18T11:28:23.754+00:00HMG's Green "To Do" list<p> A very good <a href="https://www.edie.net/from-the-post-brexit-bonfire-to-energy-skills-planning-7-key-green-policy-gaps-for-the-uk-government-to-close-in-2023/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Read%20more" target="_blank">summary of where HMG needs to go</a> in 2023 from Edie's Sarah George and Matt Mace.</p><p>Reposted from Edie:-</p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top post-headline" style="border: 0px; font-size: 45px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The key green policy gaps for the UK Government to close in 2023</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">As we enter a New Year, edie reflects on the green policy opportunities taken and missed in the UK in 2022, laying out seven policy gaps for Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet to work to close in 2023.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/circular-economy/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">CIRCULAR ECONOMY</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/climate-nature/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; 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text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">POLICY</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/social-sustainability/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/tech-innovation/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">TECH & INNOVATION</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/transport/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">TRANSPORT</a></li></span></ul></div></div><div class="col-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 414.719px;"><div class="article-details" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="author-details" style="align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="date no-pd-btm no-pd-top" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sarah George & Matt Mace</span></p><p class="date no-pd-top no-pd-btm" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Published <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2nd January 2023</span></span></p></div></div></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-box-align: center; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="The key green policy gaps for the UK Government to close in 2023" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentLookUp.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentLookUp.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentLookUp.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentLookUp.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentLookUp.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentLookUp.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ParliamentLookUp.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">With the long-term direction of travel set by the 25-Year Environment Plan and legally binding net-zero target, the devil is now in the detail. Policymaking this decade will be crucial to lay the foundations for the changes needed to create a net-zero, nature-positive economy here in the UK – and to maximise the social and economic benefits of doing so.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Yet the Government has faced practical challenges in delivering any policy to time in the second half of 2022 – green or otherwise – amid two changes in leadership. Boris Johnson resigned as Prime Minister in July and his successor, Liz Truss, appointed in September. She served just 45 days in office and was replaced by her opponent in the original leadership race, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Sunak did pause or overturn some of the policy measures made by Truss that were concerning to green groups, but fumbled on climate optics by originally declining his invitation to COP27. He did ultimately go, for one day, after Johnson accepted his invite – but his speech failed to impress environmental NGOs. He also did not heed requests to attend biodiversity COP15 negotiations in Montreal.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">As the weeks have progressed, it has become clear that Sunak still has a hefty green policy to-do list in his in tray. Here, we round up seven green policy gaps his Government will need to address in the coming year.</span></p><ol style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Avoiding a post-Brexit ‘bonfire’ of environmental safeguards</span></li></ol><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak alike campaigned on promises to ensure that UK law diverges from EU law in instances where this could create higher standards and economic benefits. Under Truss, the Government ushered in the Retained Law Bill, which is designed to ensure that the majority of EU laws retained in the UK post-Brexit expire at the end of 2023. The rest of the laws should then be phased out by June 2026.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Bill was swiftly criticised by green groups who claimed that hasty changes could lead to a downgrade in environmental and social standards. Moreover, delivering the Bill, some have argued, would redirect civil service resource from progressing the pressing changes to legislation needed to meet key climate and nature targets, following years of delays already.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) itself <a href="https://www.edie.net/uks-environment-watchdog-warns-of-rushed-review-of-eu-green-laws/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has now warned</a> the Government against a rushed approach to ‘sunsetting’ EU legislation. It is recommending that the 2023 deadline is moved.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The OEP’s chair Dame Glenys Stacey said: “If done well, this review could make environmental law better. But done badly, or rushed unduly, it could compound environmental problems and create new uncertainties and burdens. Rushed law-making is not conducive to addressing environmental problems that are difficult, complex, interconnected and long-term. It runs the risk of undermining the UK Government’s own environmental ambitions and international standing.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Hundreds of environmental laws could be revoked or amended under the Bill. These laws are critical to solving pressing challenges such as nature depletion and the quality of air and water and marine environments. Worryingly, the Bill does not offer any safety net, there is no requirement to maintain existing levels of environmental protection.”</span></p><ol start="2" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Making the Net-Zero Strategy lawful</span></li></ol><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">July 2022 saw the High Court ruling that the UK Government’s Net-Zero Strategy, published in late 2021 in the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow, is unlawful. The Court sided with Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth as they argued that the Strategy does not contain the level of funding or detail needed to be aligned with net-zero by 2050, nor with the UK’s interim carbon budgets.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Court gave the UK Government nine months to amend the Strategy, which will bring us to March 2023. By this point, Chris Skidmore MP’s net-zero review will be complete and the Government should be working on its detailed response to the resulting recommendations. This should form a good basis for updating the Strategy.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">edie’s own <a href="https://www.edie.net/edies-net-zero-business-barometer/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Net-Zero Business Barometer survey</a> of 148 energy and sustainability professionals, conducted online in September and October, revealed that most of these professionals are very keen for the Government to update the Strategy as a priority. 59% of respondents classed this move as a top-three priority for policymakers.</span></p><ol start="3" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Closing the growing green skills gap</span></li></ol><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Shortly after the publication of the Net-Zero Strategy, MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) <a href="https://www.edie.net/news/11/UK-Government-still-not-clear-on-green-skills-and-jobs-plan-despite-Net-Zero-Strategy--MPs-warn/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">warned that</a> it only detailed the creation of a further 440,000 green jobs by 2030, while the Government’s target is two million. The EAC also argued that, without an official definition of what makes a role “green”, Ministers cannot credibly claim to be developing robust job creation plans to remedy the fact that <a href="https://www.edie.net/uk-government-not-on-track-to-achieve-green-jobs-target-latest-official-data-suggests/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the UK only hosted 207,800 green jobs in 2020</a>.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Under Johnson, the Government created a Green Jobs Taskforce featuring representatives from businesses, trade bodies, education and NGOs. We are not sure whether the Taskforce will continue to exist under Sunak. Moreover, the Government is yet to provide a formal definition of what constitutes a ‘green job’ or to provide a thorough update to its plans for skills or education.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">So far, with Sunak in charge, the Government has <a href="https://www.edie.net/government-outlines-funding-for-9000-training-courses-for-green-home-workers/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">confirmed £9.2m of funding</a> to upskill workers in the energy, heating and buildings sectors to help with the installations of clean heating and energy efficiency solutions for homes. This will be crucial as the UK works to reduce energy consumption by 15% by 2030 – an ambition announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s first fiscal statement on 17 November. However, we will need an approach that is more holistic and less piecemeal to meet retrofit targets – and that’s before we come onto other kinds of green jobs, in fields like electric car manufacturing and nature conservation.</span></p><ol start="4" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Supporting farmers in the net-zero transition</span></li></ol><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Truss’s short tenure, in the green economy, will likely be remembered for her willingness to pit economic growth and environmental sustainability against each other. In no sector was this clearer, arguably, than agriculture. Truss described solar panels as “paraphernalia” and argued that building them out would compromise food security, despite evidence to the contrary provided by both the renewables sector and farmers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It was reported in <a href="https://www.edie.net/defra-reportedly-planning-clampdown-on-solar-farm-development/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">early October</a> 2022 that Defra was looking to extend its ban on solar for high-grade farmland to land categorised as 3b, or “sub-grade”. Land within this category accounts for the majority of the planned pipeline for ground-mounted solar on farms. The ban already applies to grade 1, 2 and 3a land.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Also under Truss, the Government was reportedly set to propose changes to the flagship Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), ending measures that would see farmers paid for conserving and restoring soils, nature, water and more. The ELMs are set to replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-Brexit and the change is an opportunity to disincentivise farming approaches that prioritise short-term yields over long-term sustainability. <a href="https://www.edie.net/natural-england-chair-calls-for-defra-not-to-scrap-nature-friendly-farming/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Natural England</a> and other organisations have spoken out about the reported proposals.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Both of these moves were shelved as Truss resigned as Sunak was appointed. Defra’s Therese Coffey, who holds the top job at the Department, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/17/de-facto-ban-on-solar-farms-in-england-to-continue-therese-coffey-signals" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has indicated</a> that the solar ban proposal is likely to go ahead. However, regarding the ELMs reforms, a Department spokesperson said that no changes have been made and that the Government will “press ahead” with the ELMs. The spokesperson did say that there will be “some fine-tuning” and that “more details will be provided in due course”.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Defra is being pushed for ELMs clarity by a coalition of more than 50 organisations operating in the food system, led by WWF. A letter sent to the Department in December 2022 by the coalition called for “the vision, clarity, and detail on the rollout of ELMs to plan into an uncertain future”. Defra reiterated that further announcements on the schemes would be coming soon.</span></p><ol start="5" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Firming up the National Food Strategy</span></li></ol><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">July 2021 saw a team lead by Henry Dimbleby <a href="https://www.edie.net/national-food-strategy-presses-uk-government-to-clarify-environmental-incentives-for-farmers-post-brexit/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">publishing a string of recommendations</a> for a new National Food Strategy. With the food system accounting for one-fifth of the UK’s emissions and with the Government grasping the need to work with farmers to converve and improve nature, Dimbleby highlighted recommendations on reducing emissions, improving efficiency, working with nature and promoting more sustainable diets.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/reports-green-strings-of-uk-food-strategy-to-be-ditched/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">The Government’s response, published in June</a> 2022, saw precious few of these recommendations drawn up. It was, by and large, <a href="https://www.edie.net/a-feeble-to-do-list-environmental-groups-and-agriculture-sector-react-to-uk-governments-food-strategy/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">a disappointment to the green economy and to farmers</a> – groups so often pitted against one another, as mentioned above. Dimbleby’s proposals on free school meals and reducing meat and dairy consumption were among those failing to make the cut for the Government’s interpretation.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Climate Change Committee (CCC) <a href="https://www.edie.net/ccc-progress-report-is-any-part-of-the-uk-economy-on-course-to-reach-net-zero-emissions/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has stated</a> that the agriculture and land use sectors have been among the worst with net-zero progress to date. Closing policy gaps here must, therefore, be a priority for Sunak and his Government if he wishes to be seen as a ‘green’ PM. Fine-tuning the Food Strategy is also an opportunity to address other challenges for Sunak, including food security, public health and fair pay for farmers.</span></p><ol start="6" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unlocking onshore wind</span></li></ol><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Onshore wind development in England was effectively banned under David Cameron in 2016. The Government did add onshore wind back into the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction rounds’ eligibility criteria <a href="https://www.edie.net/government-announces-major-overhaul-to-uks-onshore-wind-subsidies/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">in 2020 under Johnson</a> but planning restrictions were kept in place.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Now, with gas prices at record highs and with the UK working to end electricity generation from unabated gas by 2035, the Government is facing calls to couple its lofty ambitions for offshore wind with at least <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">some </em>changes to support onshore wind development.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Some of these calls are coming from within the Conservative Party itself. Simon Clarke MP tabled an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, to include a clause that would lift planning restrictions for onshore wind in areas where communities have voiced support for development. Again, following this amendment would seem to fit with the narrative of the Net-Zero Review – to make the transition as “pro-growth and pro-business” as possible.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Supporting Clarke were almost two-dozen Conservative MPs including Truss and Johnson. The Conservative Environment Network, which has more than 100 Tory MPs signed up, has also publicly spoken out in favour of Clarke’s proposal.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The amendment was ultimately adopted and we can expect the Bill to progress to Royal Assent this year. The Bill was introduced in May and is currently progressing through the House of Lords.</span></p><ol start="7" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Navigating fossil fuel backlash</span></li></ol><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Despite strong rhetoric at COP26 and the best efforts of summit President Alok Sharma, the UK is widely regarded as having fumbled international optics around climate leadership at – and since – the summit.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/from-renewables-to-fossil-fuels-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-uks-energy-security-strategy/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">The Energy Security Strategy</a>, published in April 2022, confirmed plans previously floated to hold a major oil and gas licencing round in the autumn/winter season, leading to increased questions <a href="https://www.edie.net/uk-governments-bullish-support-for-new-oil-and-gas-unwise-ccc-warns/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">about the compatibility of the government’s energy transition approach with its own legally binding climate targets</a>.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">While the move to lift the ban on fracking was short, the licencing round is proceeding, despite <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/12/uk-ministers-face-legal-challenge-over-north-sea-oil-and-gas-licences" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">threats of legal action</a>. Sunak’s climate minister <a href="https://www.edie.net/graham-stuart-more-north-sea-oil-and-gas-entirely-compatible-with-uks-net-zero-transition/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">has maintained</a> that the UK can increase oil and gas production in the near-term and meet its legal pledges. Nonetheless, the decision on the Rosebank oil and gas field <a href="https://www.edie.net/rosebank-potential-delay-for-oil-field-as-regulator-presses-equinor-for-environmental-information/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">is facing delays</a>, with project lead Equinor required to provide more information on how the project complies with the sector’s transition requirements and the corporate’s own climate targets. This does set a precedent, especially when one considers that the Cambo project has also faced delays.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Oil and gas aren’t the only fossil fuels in the spotlight. After a string of delays, Levelling Up Secretary and former Environment Secretary Michael Gove <a href="https://www.edie.net/outrage-as-uks-first-deep-coal-mine-in-more-than-30-years-approved-by-government/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">gave West Cumbia Mining permission to develop the UK’s first deep coal mine in more than 30 years near Whitehaven in December 2022</a>. Gove was satisfied that there will be a demand for coal from British steelmakers and steelmakers abroad for the years to come and stated that he did not consider a “compelling case” for electric arc furnaces, hydrogen direct reduction or other cleantech options to displace coal in the sector. Some cleantech and steel business commentators have disagreed.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Gove also argued that the mine would not result in additional coal use, but, rather, displace the use of coal from elsewhere. He noted that this could be a good thing given the mine’s requirement to operate on a ‘net-zero’ basis. This claim has been widely rubbished, with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/13/gove-defence-of-uk-coalmine-dismissed-as-greenwashing-nonsense" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">plans to offset emissions from the project deemed “absurd”.</a> Critics also argue that the UK should be encouraging steelmakers in other countries to follow its low-carbon lead.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Beyond the environmental impact of the mine, eyebrows have been raised by the fact that the mine will ultimately <a href="https://www.clientearth.org/latest/press-office/press/clientearth-alerts-cumbria-coal-mine-financier-to-legal-risk/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">be owned by EMR Capital</a>, a private equity fund based out of the Cayman Islands – a tax haven. Another broadly-questioned aspect of the situation is that Gove was provided with recommendations<a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/former-miner-approved-cumbrian-coalmine-5c73q788t" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"> by a former coal miner.</a></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">As we enter a new year, we can expect more criticism from policymakers at home and abroad over the UK’s fossil fuel approach. There will also likely be new legal challenges.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-26982186290014409532022-12-27T18:30:00.000+00:002022-12-27T18:30:15.752+00:00<p> <a href="https://www.edie.net/weak-and-unambitious-green-groups-criticise-defras-legally-binding-environment-targets/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=%E2%80%98Weak%20and%20unambitious%E2%80%99%3A%20Green%20groups%20criticise%20Defra%E2%80%99s%20legally%20binding%20environment%20targets" target="_blank">Another repost from Edie</a></p><p>In my experience Defra has always been a weak and flabby organisation. </p><p><br /></p><p>Confirmed!</p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top" style="border: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">‘Weak and unambitious’: Green groups criticise Defra’s legally binding environment targets</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The UK Government has finally published its updated, legally binding targets to restore and protect nature, but green groups do not believe the new measures will help to stop the degradation of the natural environment.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/climate-nature/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">CLIMATE & NATURE</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/policy/" style="border: 0px; 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transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Matt Mace">Matt Mace</a></span></p><p class="date no-pd-top no-pd-btm" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Published <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">19th December 2022</span></span></p></div></div></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="‘Weak and unambitious’: Green groups criticise Defra’s legally binding environment targets" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_41647.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_41647.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_41647.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_41647.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_41647.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_41647.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_41647.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /><p class="caption" style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Government is legally required to publish an Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023 that will set out how these targets will be met</span></p></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Defra failed to meet a statutory deadline of 31 October to confirm targets for nature that are included under the Environment Bill, despite the Bill receiving Royal Assent in November 2021.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Following “extensive consultation”, Defra has now released new targets that are all aimed at leaving the environment in a better state for future generations.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Under the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-leading-environment-act-becomes-law" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Environment Act</a>, the targets require the Government to halt the decline in species population by 2030 and increase populations by at least 10% beyond current levels by 2042. It also commits to restoring water bodies to their natural state, boosting nature recovery and woodland cover to 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050 as well as halving waste per person that is sent to residual treatment by 2042.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The new targets also include vague and unspecified plans to cut exposure to pollutants in the air and restore 70% of designated features in our Marine Protected Areas to a favourable condition by 2042, with the rest in a recovering condition.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Overall the strategy will build into targets to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, which will also help the UK to meet its international commitment to protect 30% of its land and ocean by 2030 and <a href="https://www.edie.net/?s=net-zero" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">reach net-zero by 2050</a>.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Government is legally required to publish an Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023 that will set out how these targets will be met.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey, speaking at the UN Convention in Montreal, said: “We are committed to leaving our natural world in a better state for future generations, and today we are laying the foundations that will help deliver on this commitment.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“These targets are ambitious and will be challenging to achieve – but they will drive our efforts to restore our natural environment, protect our much-loved landscapes and green spaces and marine environment, as well as help tackle climate change.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Defra updated the draft Policy Statement on Environmental Principles in May 2022. One of the listed principles, the integration principle, states that policymakers should seek opportunities to embed environmental protection and restoration in all fields of policy that impact nature. Another, the prevention principle, states that all Government policy should aim to prevent environmental harm at the source.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Reaction to these principles has been lukewarm at best, <a href="https://twitter.com/GreenerUK_/status/1525049400766214144" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">with many major green groups expressing concern that they will result in a downgrading of ambitions and actions. </a></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Earlier this year, the UK’s post-Brexit watchdog <a href="https://www.edie.net/office-for-environmental-protection-calls-on-government-to-strengthen-unambitious-nature-targets/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">urged the Government to revisit its approach to environmental targets,</a> warning that “comprehensive” statutory targets need to be introduced to help protect and restore the environment. It has since called for an environmental non-regression safeguard to be added to the ongoing review of hundreds of retained EU laws as well as calling for the deadline to be extended beyond 2023.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Industry reaction</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Commenting on the new targets, <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Environmental Audit Committee Chairman, Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP,</span> said: “The bottleneck at DEFRA appears to be easing, and I welcome the Environment Secretary’s publication of these proposed environment targets. Our Committee is yet to scrutinise the proposed targets and interim targets and how they will be met, and the Commons and Lords must approve them before they come into force. Today’s publication nevertheless marks a further milestone on the road towards environmental recovery mapped out in last year’s Environment Act.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The Government’s renewed commitment to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030 is welcome, but requires swift action to ensure the target is achieved. As the Committee recommended in its report on biodiversity and ecosystems, clear interim targets are required. At the time, we called for the targets to include species distribution, extinction risk, habitat extent and condition.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“For environmental targets to be successful, they must be achievable yet ambitious. This must also require a cross-Government effort: in the same way individual departments need to get behind net zero, they must also be committed to improving nature and the environment. The climate crisis and ecological crisis are twin challenges and tackling them together in a serious and committed way is key.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wildlife Trusts’ chief executive Craig Bennett</span> said:<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>“We were told that these targets were delayed to take into account the unprecedented public response to the consultation – but despite 99% of respondents calling for greater ambition to reverse nature’s decline, we’ve ended up with the same low ambition targets that were consulted on. What’s more, the Government has failed to set targets on two of the most pressing issues – river health and protected sites for nature.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“Not a single river, lake, or estuary in England is in good health – with sewage, agricultural and chemical pollution continuing to pour into our waterways. And the Government’s latest data on the state of nature shows that the condition of our most important places for wildlife is continuing to decline year on year. Failing to set targets to tackle these fundamental issues defies public opinion. Without a target to improve our protected sites, the Government has little hope of achieving its international commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“The target to halt nature’s decline by the end of the decade is welcome but this should be coupled with a genuine target for nature’s recovery. Simply aiming for marginally more nature in 20 years’ time than our current, extremely depleted state is far from world-leading and an abdication of our responsibility to future generations.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) land analyst Matt Williams</span> said: “New national targets show the UK is planning to turn global nature goals, currently being negotiated in Canada, into action back home. But some may question how serious the Government is, given there’s no target whatsoever for the health of nature reserves – some of the most important areas for storing carbon and providing a home for wildlife. A target for increasing the number of trees – crucial for storing carbon – looks less ambitious than many had hoped, and like it will let England off the hook, relying on greater effort from the other UK nations.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“In recent years for climate change we’ve seen legally binding targets send a strong signal and stimulate private investment in renewable energy and low-carbon transport. The hope will be that these targets for nature do the same, stimulating private investment in restoring forests, hedgerows, and peatlands that can absorb carbon and help tackle climate change, including to support farmers to do so.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Clear Air Fund’s executive director Jane Burston said</span>: “It is hugely disappointing that the government has set a weak and unambitious target for reducing deadly air pollution. The research is clear that achieving cleaner air by 2030 can be done in a cost-effective way that boosts the economy. By delaying this target by 10 years, between 260,000 and 380,000 more lives could be lost to air pollution. This weaker target would also mean the loss of a potential ‘clean air dividend’ to the UK economy of £1.6bn each year or more than £12bn over 10 years, according to recent CBI analysis. We must see greater ambition from the government if we’re to meet this challenge, protect people’s health, deliver on Net Zero and strengthen the economy.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wildlife and Countryside Link’s chief executive </span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Richard Benwell said</span>: “It’s good to see Government catch up with its legal obligations and publish Environment Act targets before the end of COP15. Environment Act targets are more than political aspirations. They are meant to provide legal certainty, clarity for business, and shared purpose across Government. So a package without targets for protected sites and overall water quality is a job half done. Ministers are in Montreal now promising to protect 30% of the land and sea for nature by 2030. To publish targets at home without a commitment to improve the condition of our most important wildlife sites is a world away from that rhetoric.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“In January, Defra is legally required to review whether the targets would deliver a significant environmental improvement. The 2030 target to halt the decline of species is a real positive, but without protected sites and water quality targets, the package does not live up to that test. DEFRA should commit to consult and fill these gaps without delay.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Aldersgate Group’s executive director Nick Molho said</span>: “Today’s publication of the UK’s long-term targets is a significant milestone in the journey to reverse the decline of the natural environment. The publication of the targets during the COP15 summit in Montreal should empower the UK negotiation team to push for ambitious progress at a time when global progress on nature and biodiversity restoration is critical. The introduction of the species abundance targets should be particularly welcome in this regard.”<br />“While the publication of the targets is a significant step forward, work remains to be done to strengthen the targets over time and plug some important gaps. In particular, the water quality targets could be made more effective by being more outcomes focused and the Government should keep open the possibility of increasing ambition on the species abundance targets. The overall framework should also be strengthened over time by introducing a few key missing targets include a national apex target to improve water quality, a resource productivity target to improve resource efficiency across the economy and a target to improve the conditions of Sites of Special Scientific Interest to support the country’s biodiversity ambitions.”</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-16187529558587555132022-12-27T18:26:00.000+00:002022-12-27T18:26:19.502+00:00The Views of Brits re Climate Action<p> <a href="https://www.edie.net/what-do-brits-really-believe-about-climate-action-and-net-zero/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=What%20do%20Brits%20really%20believe%20about%20climate%20action%20and%20net-zero%3F" target="_blank">This is reposted from Edie</a></p><p>Some of the findings of this survey are alarming:</p><p>30% of people believe the media exaggerate the risks of climate change.</p><p>28% of people clearly don't understand the tragedy of the commons question.</p><p>But there are hopeful signs, too.</p><p>Read on:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top" style="border: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What do Brits really believe about climate action and net-zero?</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Almost half (47%) of adults in Britain are overwhelmed by climate-related information, which they often find to be conflicting. So, what are the general public really thinking about environmental issues this season?</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/climate-nature/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">CLIMATE & NATURE</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/energy/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">ENERGY</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/policy/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">POLICY</a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/social-sustainability/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY</a></li></span></ul></div></div><div class="col-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="What do Brits really believe about climate action and net-zero?" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/XRProtestSign.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/XRProtestSign.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/XRProtestSign.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/XRProtestSign.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/XRProtestSign.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/XRProtestSign.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/XRProtestSign.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published <span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/beis-public-attitudes-tracker-autumn-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=2d60bc48-bf01-4df5-9c29-b78f81be5535&utm_content=immediately" style="border: 0px; color: blue; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the latest edition of its quarterly public attitudes trackers</a></span> this week. These surveys were sent to more than 20,000 adults – a representative sample of socioeconomic demographics. More than 4,100 people responded, providing a handy snapshot of public sentiment on climate and energy issues.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">It could be argued that this latest edition is very timely. We are now one month out from COP27 and negotiations are ongoing for biodiversity COP15. Climate disinformation has been rife on Twitter, with some denying the global temperature increase due to the cold snap currently gripping the UK.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">BEIS found that these people are a minority. 45% of people say they are “very concerned” about climate change, with a further 38% being fairly concerned”. Only 3% of people are “not at all concerned”. These proportions have been fairly consistent over the past year. Levels of concern were found to be higher for women than for men, and higher in those educated to degree level.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Here, we summarise – in handy bullet points – some of the other key findings from this round of BEIS’s public attitudes tracker research.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Net-zero knowledge</span></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Only 10% of people in the UK have never heard of the concept of ‘net-zero emissions’ or ‘net-zero carbon dioxide’, down slightly from 13% last Autumn.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">16% of people say they know ‘a lot’ about net-zero, up slightly on a quarterly basis from 14%. A further 35% say they know ‘a fair amount’.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Almost half of people (47%) are overwhelmed by climate-related information, which they often find to be conflicting.</span></li></ul><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Trust in climate-related information</span></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The most-trusted information sources are scientists working at universities, and scientific organisations. Four in ten Brits trust these sources “a great deal”.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The least trusted information sources are posts on social media, which only 15% of people trust to some extent. Four in ten people do not trust climate information circulated on social media at all. Newspapers and newspaper websites, plus the UK Government itself, are also failing to garner high levels of trust.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">30% of people believe that the media exaggerates the risks and impacts of cimate change.</span></li></ul><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Changing habits</span></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">28% of people believe that it is not worth taking climate action if others are not already doing the same.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">85% of people think individual behavioural changes have a role to play in combatting the climate crisis.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The least common behavioural change is driving an electric car. Just 10% of people surveyed said they do this.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The most common individual environmental action is recycling waste – something 86% of people say they do.</span></li></ul><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Opinions on renewable energy</span></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 15px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">88% of people support the use of renewable energy. Support has remained consistently high over the past 12 months when all technologies are accounted for.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Solar is now the most-supported technology option, with 59% of people identifying as “strong supporters”, up from 55% last autumn.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">– Opposition is highest for biomass (6% in strong opposition) and onshore wind (4% in strong opposition).</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Three-quarters of people (74%) believe that renewable energy developments bring economic benefits to the UK</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 7.5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Only 12% of people would be unhappy for an onshore wind farm to be developed in their local area, falling to 7% for a solar farm. The main concerns were the development making the view less attractive; the potential impact on nature and the potential impact on house prices.</span></li></ul></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-80785852970437946222022-12-27T18:19:00.000+00:002022-12-27T18:19:31.204+00:00What Everyone Knows .................................. But Government Won't Act Upon<p> <a href="https://www.edie.net/report-net-zero-investments-an-economic-environmental-and-political-necessity-for-uk/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Read%20more" target="_blank">Reposted from EDIE</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top" style="border: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Report: Net-zero investments an ‘economic, environmental and political necessity’ for UK</span></h1><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Government spending to tackle the climate crisis now would boost GDP in the long-term and gain the support of the public, according to new research that finds that 80% of people see investment into renewables as a key measure to respond to the energy crisis.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/policy/" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; 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transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Matt Mace">Matt Mace</a></span></p><p class="date no-pd-top no-pd-btm" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Published <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">16th December 2022</span></span></p></div></div></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; 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border-right: none; border-top-color: rgb(188, 188, 187); border-top-style: solid; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="col col-8 post-main-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Report: Net-zero investments an ‘economic, environmental and political necessity’ for UK" class="post-single-image" height="482" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_43529.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_43529.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_43529.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_43529.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_43529.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_43529.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/full_43529.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="856" /><p class="caption" style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The IPPR states that if the UK were to boost its GDP by just 0.5%, it would enable around £12bn in additional public spending</span></p></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">New <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2F74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me%2FL0%2Fhttp%3A%252F%252Fwww.ippr.org%252F%2F1%2F01020185104753bf-be25f67c-e82e-46e6-8b54-96640aed0b18-000000%2FPRW48QZXq2Pu8Sxjj0A_UNXIqD0%3D300&data=05%7C01%7CMattMace%40fav-house.com%7C5980446296cb41b3348f08dadea5c9e2%7C5faa4269d37a4c5d9c1a37ecfe512c9a%7C0%7C0%7C638067100876590914%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wTDwAqCUiCGSvGvw7Muho7bqcqtNYq0EmPRW1Zk9oW8%3D&reserved=0" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">research</a> from IPPR finds that investing now to tackle the climate crisis is not only popular amongst the public, but would act as a long-term cost-saving policy for the Government.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The IPPR warns that inaction on climate has seen costs rising, with flooding alone in the winter of 2019/20 costing around £333m. At the same time, the UK faces a cost of living crisis catalysed by rising energy bills.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The IPPR states that if the UK were to boost its GDP by just 0.5%, it would enable around £12bn in additional public spending. In contrast, research suggests that the net-zero transition could boost the UK’s GDP by 2% by 2030 and 3% by 2050. Additionally, delivering cleaner air, more green spaces and reducing emissions would reduce the burden on the NHS by £2bn a year.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The UK Government <a href="https://www.edie.net/climate-crisis-could-wipe-out-1-of-gdp-by-2045-uk-government-admits/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">previously warned that</a>, without better plans to improve climate resilience, billions of pounds will be wiped off of national GDP in the coming decades, with the costs of inaction set to outweigh the cost of action by 2045.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">As such, the IPPR has set out five principles for responsible public investment in net zero. It includes fair spending to address inequalities, creating added value for the private sector by driving low-carbon markets, phasing investment plans year-on-year to deal with supply chain constraints, reforming the economy through a new industrial strategy and ensuring that value accounts for environmental and social as well as economic.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The IPPR’s associate fellow Sam Alvis said: “Now is not the time to back away from much needed green investment. As the UK enters recession, it’s even more important for public investment to drive the new, clean infrastructure that we know can generate stronger growth. Rolling out renewable energy, restoring our natural environment or expanding public transport, can all improve our productivity whilst driving down emissions.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">“But in a challenging economic environment the government must ensure that its spending goes as far as possible and delivers both economic growth and emissions reductions. Prioritising measures that crowd-in private investment, establishing more independent oversight, and making existing institutions more targeted can all do that.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The IPPR also notes that climate action is increasingly popular with the public.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Polling conducted by Opinium shows that 68% of the public support a “multibillion climate investment package”, while four in five people believe that investing in renewables is an ideal response to the current energy crisis.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The research comes as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/beis-public-attitudes-tracker-autumn-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=2d60bc48-bf01-4df5-9c29-b78f81be5535&utm_content=immediately" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">the latest edition of its quarterly public attitudes trackers</a>. These surveys were sent to more than 20,000 adults – a representative sample of socioeconomic demographics. More than 4,100 people responded, providing a handy snapshot of public sentiment on climate and energy issues.</span></p></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-46127887317267670322022-12-06T12:59:00.002+00:002022-12-06T12:59:58.591+00:00We Need Onshore Wind<p> <a href="https://www.edie.net/onshore-wind-truss-and-johnson-join-group-of-rebel-tories-calling-for-ban-to-be-lifted/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Read%20more" target="_blank">Reposted from Edie</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></p><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="no-pd-top" style="border: 0px; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Onshore wind: Truss and Johnson join group of rebel Tories calling for ban to be lifted</span></h1><h1 class="no-pd-top" style="border: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="col col-12 no-col-mob" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="row-inner no-pd-top top-bar" style="align-items: stretch; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; column-gap: 2%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between !important; margin: 0px auto; max-width: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1296px; z-index: 1;"><div class="col-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 flex-column" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 745.188px;"><div class="title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have joined a growing challenge to the levelling up bill, urging the inclusion of measures to make onshore wind development easier in the UK.</span></p></div><div class="post-actions" style="-webkit-box-pack: justify; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: space-between; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><ul class="tags" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></ul></li><ul class="tags" style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Author avatar image" class="avatar-image entered lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(min-width:576px) 306px, 100vw" data-lazy-src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=306&height=306&func=cover" data-lazy-srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=306&height=306&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=416&height=416&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=636&height=636&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=856&height=856&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=1296&height=1296&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=2560&height=2560&func=cover 2560w" data-ll-status="loaded" height="306" sizes="(min-width:576px) 306px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=306&height=306&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=306&height=306&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=416&height=416&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=636&height=636&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=856&height=856&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=1296&height=1296&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-George.jpeg?width=2560&height=2560&func=cover 2560w" style="border-radius: 50%; 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font-size: 0.8rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Published <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">25th November 2022</span></span></p><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></ul><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><li style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.edie.net/topic/energy/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1b39; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; 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box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 855.359px; z-index: 0;"><div class="paywall-content paywall-content-js" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="image-holder" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; float: left; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Onshore wind: Truss and Johnson join group of rebel Tories calling for ban to be lifted" class="post-single-image" height="480" sizes="(min-width:576px) 856px, 100vw" src="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/AWindEngland-1.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover" srcset="https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/AWindEngland-1.jpg?width=306&height=172&func=cover 306w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/AWindEngland-1.jpg?width=416&height=234&func=cover 416w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/AWindEngland-1.jpg?width=636&height=358&func=cover 636w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/AWindEngland-1.jpg?width=856&height=482&func=cover 856w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/AWindEngland-1.jpg?width=1296&height=729&func=cover 1296w, https://e2k9ube.cloudimg.io/v7/edienetlive.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/AWindEngland-1.jpg?width=2560&height=1440&func=cover 2560w" style="border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="853" /><p class="caption" style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Pictured: Green Rigg wind farm, Northumberland</span></p></div><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><a href="https://twitter.com/lara_spirit/status/1595382907111198720" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">An amendment</a> to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill was first tabled earlier this week by Simon Clarke, the Conservative MP for Middlesborough South and East Cleveland, in a bid to end the de facto ban on new onshore wind. It has gained the backing of more than 20 Conservative MPs, with Clarke confirming the support of Johnson and Truss earlier today (25 November).</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Clarke’s amendment would oblige the UK Government to alter planning rules for onshore wind farms within six months of the bill passing into law. These changes would permit onshore wind in communities where there is a high level of support. It has been extremely challenging to develop new onshore wind farms in the UK since 2014, due to a tightening of planning restrictions under then-Prime Minister David Cameron.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Government did add onshore wind back into the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction rounds’ eligibility criteria <a href="https://www.edie.net/government-announces-major-overhaul-to-uks-onshore-wind-subsidies/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">in 2020 under Johnson</a> but planning restrictions were kept in place. Hence, it is very significant that Johnson is backing Clarke’s amendment.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Truss has repeatedly stated that she would support more onshore wind development despite her opposition to solar farms, particularly on agricultural land.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Clarke has stated that his amendment would result in a “pro-growth, pro-green policy at a time when we need both”. The UK Government is notably <a href="https://www.edie.net/one-week-left-to-respond-to-uk-governments-net-zero-review/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">undertaking a review</a> of its pathway to net-zero at present, in recognition of the fact that its current Net-Zero Strategy is unlawful and given Truss’s wish for a “pro-business, pro-growth, economically efficient” approach. Chris Skidmore MP is heading up this review.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Also of note is the fact that the UK published a new <a href="https://www.edie.net/energy-security-strategy-uk-targets-95-low-carbon-electricity-mix-by-2030-but-will-increase-oil-and-gas-production/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Energy Security Strategy</a> this spring, headlined by a pledge for 95% of Britain’s electricity generation mix to be from low-carbon sources by 2030, rising to 100% by 2035. <a href="https://www.edie.net/from-renewables-to-fossil-fuels-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-uks-energy-security-strategy/" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1b39; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">There was precious little support for onshore wind or solar</a>, despite major capacity target increases for offshore wind, nuclear and hydrogen, plus a swathe of measures designed to boost North Sea oil and gas production.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Clarke has stated: “Whether or not to proceed with onshore wind [development] is a decision that should be made by local communities, rather than top-down from Westminster. It is the cheapest form of energy generation bar none. It will boost our energy security, help us on the path to net-zero and ease the cost-of-living squeeze just when we need it most.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Conservative Environment Network is supporting Clarke’s work here. Its Parliamentary Caucus now includes more than 100 Tory MPs.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill was introduced in May and is currently in the report stage and third reading stage. The next meeting on the Bill will take place on Monday (28 November).</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Another amendment that has caused drama this month was brought forward by former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers. She, and around 50 other Tory MPs, want the Bill to include measures that would scrap mandatory housebuilding targets for local authorities in favour of an advisory-only measure.</span></p></div></div></h1></div></div></div></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-49961132245540571692022-12-06T12:53:00.002+00:002022-12-06T12:53:30.307+00:00Farmers Loosing Out By Not Installing Solar<p> Interesting thoughts in <a href="https://www.edie.net/solar-power-ban-on-englands-farms-could-see-farmers-missing-out-on-1bn-benefit-analysis-reveals/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Read%20more" target="_blank">this article</a> from Edie. What also needs discussing is the issue of subsidising fuel crops when solar would be a better C-reduction measure.</p>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-39640548815371053242022-11-03T15:16:00.005+00:002022-11-03T15:16:52.258+00:00Hmm! Did my MP really read my email?<p> This is awfully similar to her previous response. Presumably penned (or typed, or copied and pasted then slightly amended) by some acolyte in her office. I wonder if she actually read my email?</p><p><br /></p><p>Dear Richard ,<br /><br />
Thank you for taking the time to contact me and for sharing your views
on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill with me.<br /><br />
I am always grateful to hear my constituents’ views on important matters such as those that you have raised in your email.<br /><br />
Please rest assured that I have taken your points on board and that I
shall raise them with ministerial and parliamentary colleagues alike for
their consideration.<br /><br />
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.<br /><br />
Best wishes,<br />
</p><div class="signature-container"><span style="color: green;"><strong>Angela Richardson MP</strong></span></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-42083797679611008222022-10-28T17:01:00.003+01:002022-10-28T17:01:59.637+01:00Well, that's alright then<p> Dear Richard ,</p><br />
Thank you for taking the time to contact me and for sharing your views
on the former Prime Minister and future decision-making with me.<br /><br />
I am always grateful to hear my constituents’ views on important matters such as those that you have raised in your email.<br /><br />
Please rest assured that I have taken your points on board and that I
shall raise them with ministerial and parliamentary colleagues alike for
their consideration.<br /><br />
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.<br /><br />
Best wishes,<br />
<div class="signature-container"><span style="color: green;"><strong>Angela Richardson MP</strong></span></div>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-42323889540509038492022-10-24T18:29:00.000+01:002022-10-24T18:29:20.309+01:00Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill<p> The next email:</p><p><br /></p><p>Dear Ms Richardson,<br />
<br />
Now that the question of the next incumbent of No 10 Downing Street has
been settled may I raise the issue of the Retained EU Law (Revocation
and Reform) Bill which has its 2nd reading on Tuesday? In the words of
Teresa May, retention of EU law after Brexit would "provide maximum
certainty........It will be for democratically elected representatives
in the UK to decide on any changes to that law, after full scrutiny and
proper debate". The Bill provides that this scrutiny shall be carried
out by the end of 2023, just 433 days away. Given that there are some
2400 pieces of REUL I find it difficult that believe that this
artificial deadline provides sufficient time to fully and properly
assess each piece of legislation. After all, there are some extremely
important laws to be considered such as:<br />
<br />
Setting minimum standards to ensure that aircraft are safe to fly;<br />
Banning the use of cancer causing chemicals in cosmetics;<br />
Protection for part-time workers so that they are not less well treated than their full-time colleagues;<br />
Compensation for travellers in cases of delays and lost luggage;<br />
Protection for staff pensions when a company goes into liquidation;<br />
A ban on the trafficking of illegal weapons;<br />
Minimum requirements for maternity pay.<br />
<br />
It may well be that it is agreed that all of the above will be retained,
or replaced with suitable alternatives, but the self-imposed sunset
clause, which really has nothing to do with Brexit - that has already
happened, risks all manner of unexpected consequences. Furthermore, this
Damoclean sword hanging over legislation that UK governments of all
colours have thought perfectly sensible in the past, can hardly be
considered as "providing maximum certainty". Indeed, the vacuum that one
encounters when looking for any specifics concerning which regulations
might be radically altered or scrapped, can hardly be regarded as
providing "maximum certainty". The events of the last couple of weeks
have clearly show that lack of certainty can have major consequences. <br />
<br />
This Bill should be scrapped.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
<br />
Richard Bawden</p>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-45624378410208789872022-10-20T12:36:00.002+01:002022-10-20T12:36:42.201+01:00Fracking Debate Debacle<p> Just when you might have thought it could not become any more shambolic along comes yet <a href="https://www.edie.net/government-defeats-fracking-ban-vote-turns-back-on-2019-manifesto-pledge/?utm_campaign=edie%20daily%20news%20alert&utm_source=AdestraCampaign&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Read%20more" target="_blank">another farrago</a> - although one should perhaps acknowledge it was an obvious trap for the Opposition to set. Fracking should be dead in the water (and, indeed, on land, ho, ho) by now but for the weaselly wording surrounding the Government's moratorium. Well, that's come back to haunt them.</p>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2386331865126524845.post-87766187971809175232022-10-18T12:48:00.000+01:002022-10-18T12:48:29.859+01:00The Prime Minister!!!<p> Another little email to my MP:</p><p><br /></p><p>Dear Ms Richardson,<br />
<br />
Thank you for pointing out so clearly that the current incumbent of No
10 Downing Street should not continue as the Prime Minister of this
country. At the start of the Conservative Party leadership process in
July I wrote to you setting out what I believe to be five essential
criteria upon which to judge anyone aspiring to the role (seven criteria
if one separates the three existential risks of climate change,
biodiversity destruction and pollution). Ms Truss has spectacularly
failed to live up to those criteria.<br />
<br />
As a replacement is being contemplated perhaps it is time to view those
eligibility criteria from a different angle - i.e. the ethics of
governmental decisions in the context of their effect upon future
generations. It is a well known fact that there are more humans living
today than the sum total of all those who have lived in the past.
Barring catastrophe there will be many more humans in the future than
are alive today. Do those future generations matter as much as today's? I
suggest that they do. Is it ethically any different that an action I
take today harms someone today or a member of a future generation? I
suggest that there's no difference. That leads one to the conclusion
that decisions taken today should be done in light of avoiding harm to
any of our descendants. So, we should not be devouring physical
resources at an unsustainable rate; we should not be littering the world
with untreatable waste; we should not be deliberately driving other
species to extinction; we should not be acidifying our waters. Rather
our decisions need to be taken with respect and care for the interests
not only of the current generation but also for those of future
generations. I suggest that this includes seeking means of eradicating
poverty and hunger without trashing our environment; of eliminating
racism and discrimination; of securing biosecurity to avoid a future
pandemic; of reducing the threat of war - the list goes on. A Prime
Minister whose leadership is governed by these principles will be a Prime
Minister to cherish.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely</p>RichardJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05719552670602940645noreply@blogger.com0