UK loses position as global leader in climate action, say country’s climate advisers

Britain in 2019 became the first member of G7 nations to set a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, requiring major changes in the way Britons travel and use electricity.

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators sit in structures representing "canary in the coal mine" bird cages as others gather during a protest at Banks Group's open-cast coal mine in Bradley, County Durham, Britain | Reuters

London: Britain has lost its position as a global leader on climate action and is not doing enough to meet its mid-century net zero target, the country’s climate advisers said on Wednesday.

Britain in 2019 became the first member of the Group of Seven wealthy nations to set a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, requiring major changes in the way Britons travel and use electricity.

But strategies in place are unlikely to deliver the required emission cuts and last year’s announcements on new fossil fuel projects have tarnished Britain’s reputation as a climate leader, an annual progress report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said on Wednesday.

“The UK has lost its clear global leadership position on climate action,” it said. “We have backtracked on fossil fuel commitments, with the consenting of a new coal mine and support for new UK oil and gas production.”

The impact of climate change is already evident in Britain, which experienced record temperatures over 40C (104F) last year.

“There is a worrying hesitancy by ministers to lead the country to the next stage of net zero commitments,” CCC Chairman John Gummer said.

The CCC, set up as an independent adviser on climate action to the government, found Britain had fallen behind in areas including improving energy efficiency in buildings, rolling out heat pumps, curbing emissions from industry and increasing the rate of tree planting, which must double by 2025.

Last year’s CCC progress report also flagged Britain’s lack of action.

Since then, the government has launched its first oil and gas exploration licensing round since 2019 and approved a new coal mine.

A spokesperson said the government was proud of its record in cutting emissions, had attracted billions of pounds in investment in renewable projects and backed new industries, including carbon capture and floating offshore wind.

“With a new department dedicated to delivering net zero and energy security, we are driving economic growth, creating jobs, bringing down energy bills, and reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels,” the government spokesperson said.

The Labour opposition, however, was highly critical.

“This is by some distance the most damning indictment of a government since the climate change committee was established in 2008,” Labour’s Shadow Climate and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said.

 

(Reporting By Susanna Twidale; editing by Barbara Lewis)

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