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What should the UK do?

The UK Government should put the country on track to deliver 2030 and net zero targets, and restore its leadership on climate change globally

  • Restate and commit delivery for existing pledges including the 2030 fossil fuel vehicle phase-out, the 2035 decarbonisation of the electricity system and the commitment to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028
  • Provide a clear timeline and regulatory guidance for supporting businesses and financial institutions on what a ‘good transition’ looks like.
  • The public finance contained in the Heat and Buildings Strategy falls £4.35 bn short of the Government’s own pledges and around £9.75bn short of what is needed to get on track to net-zero.
  • Additionally the UK needs to close a funding gap on energy efficiency, needed to significantly cut emissions from housing.
  • Set out principles showing how tree-planting and peat restoration targets will be achieved, including a funding mechanism
  • Reverse on its commitments to exploit more North Sea oil and gas Declare a ban on all future coal mining proposals Announce that it will reverse the ODA cut after one year, and raise climate finance to a ‘fair shares’ level
  • Declare a ban on all future coal mining proposals
  • Announce that it will reverse the ODA cut after one year, and raise climate finance to a ‘fair shares’ level

What you need to know about the UK?

  • There is a national election in the UK in 2024. Following a recent local election in London where action on pollution became a defining issue, both major political parties (Conservatives and Labour) have sought to weaken their stances on climate action in a short-term bid to attract
  • Wavering bipartsian political support and rising scepticism for net zero among politcians does not reflect the public sentiment with ambitious action on climate change still supported by the vast majority of the public
  • The UK does not currently have a political figure leading UK diplomacy following the removal of Alok Sharma as the government climate envoy following the end of the UK’s COP26 Presidency

Recent developments, threats and levers for action

Recent developments

  • The new government under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea and is restarting onshore fracking. This has raised major concerns over how the UK intends to implement its NDC, which it resubmitted in September 2023 with no increase in its headline target of reducing emissions 68% by 2030 on 1990 levels.
  • Renewable energy: The UK increased its commitment to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2035.
  • Climate commitment: The UK’s Citizens Climate Assembly showed that UK society is concerned by climate change and citizens want to act in the recovery
  • Transport: The UK recent commitment to phase out ICE vehicles by 2030 (and hybrids by 2035) should be leveraged to encourage other countries (including those in the ZEV COP26 dialogues) to follow suit.
  • Nature-based solutions: Commitments to 30% biodiversity protection by 2030 are positive but must be met with clear follow-up actions (not vague tree statements or the use of questionable carbon credits). The UK committed to the Dasgupta Review in June 2021, outlining that all new infrastructure projects must provide a net-positive natural gain.
  • Trade Deals: post-Brexit trade deals should reinforce environmental standards and accelerate the shift to a net zero carbon economy
  • Sustainable Finance:  The UK has laid out foundational policies to green its financial sector, including the announcement of science-based green taxonomy that will come into legislation at the end of 2022, mandatory net zero transition plans for financial institutions and companies from 2023, and the new UK Infrastructure Bank with a dual mandate of net zero and levelling up

Strengths

  • Strong support for climate action across the UK’s active and largely open civil society, as well as from the public. Media coverage and support for climate action has increased significantly.
  • The CCC is a well-respected independent institution that can effectively assess climate risk and recommend adaptation measures
  • Britain’s Climate Change Act contains the world’s first legally binding national commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The UK is committed to greening its financial sector and has laid out the regulatory groundwork to achieve this. Including the introduction of a green taxonomy framework and being the first country in the world to legislate climate risk disclosure by 2025 from major financial institutions in line with the TCFD.
  • In June 2021, the UK launched the UK Infrastructure Bank to channel £22bn public funds towards infrastructure development to tackle climate change and support regional and local economic growth across the United Kingdom.

Opportunities

  • UK national election in 2024 is an opportunity to translate public support for climate action into succesful climate policies and re-engage international partners on climate diplomacy

Weaknesses

  • The new government has accelerated oil and gas development and has not invested in energy efficiency measures as part of reducing costs for UK energy customers
  • The Net Zero Strategy is an ambitious cross-cutting strategy but there are policy, funding and incentive gaps for some sectors, including heavy industry and heat and energy efficiency
  • The UK does not have credible plans for ensuring a just transition or the reskilling and training necessary for reaching net zero.

Threats

  • The new Tory government is weakening UK action on climate change
  • The ongoing developments of Russia’s attack on Ukraine risks putting the UK’s climate developments on hold, delaying action on net zero.
  • Trade deal desperation could weaken environmental/climate standards
  • Tech optimism (hydrogen/CCS/small modular reactors/etc) could ‘cloud’ judgments and make bets of technologies that might not deliver

About Climate Diplomacy Snapshots

The data is clear. Accelerated and enhanced action is needed now to build resilience and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. As they seek to address the ongoing health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19, the Ukraine-Russia war and growing climate change impacts, governments should seize opportunities to invest in a recovery that will build social, economic and climate resilience on the long-term. The Climate Diplomacy Snapshots aim to provide the climate community with a clear overview of what each country should do, on climate and recovery, to pursue these joint objectives and keep the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C. Each has been prepared with the help of national experts, and will be regularly updated. The snapshots aim to support climate advocacy in the lead up to COP28.

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