- The Conversative Party plans to axe the Climate Change Act if re-elected
- The plans have been slammed by business leaders and the renewable energy sector
- The Climate Change Act 2008 is the UK’s main green legislation
Plans from the Conservative Party to axe the Climate Change Act have been slammed by both business leaders and the renewable energy sector, with some saying it would harm the UK’s economy and energy security.
Describing the Climate Act as “the bedrock for investment” in the UK, Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive, Confederation of British Industry said the energy transition had added £83bn to the economy in the past year.
According to Newton-Smith, the Act has “underpinned” the UK’s position as a global leader in the energy transition and renewable technology.
“Scrapping the Climate Change Act would be a backwards step in achieving our shared objectives of reaching economic growth,” Newton-Smith commented, saying the legislation boosted energy security and protected the environment.
The comments come after Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, announced plans to scrap the Act. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Badenoch said while climate change is real, the Act involved too much red tape. She also said a future Conservative government would instead look at “cheaper energy” and “protecting landscapes”.
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What is the Climate Change Act?
The Climate Change Act 2008 is the UK’s main green legislation. It has legally binding targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Because of the Act, the UK government is legally obliged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
According to the government, the Act “sets up a framework for the UK to achieve its long-term goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to ensure steps are taken towards adapting to the impact of climate change”.
While it doesn’t mention solar energy or specific renewable technology directly, the Act provides the emphasis for many of the grants and schemes that are critical to the UK hitting its net-zero emissions targets, including ECO4 and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Solar Energy UK’s director of policy and delivery Gemma Grimes described the plans “reckless”, saying scrapping the Act would “undermine decades of progress” and “threaten the UK’s energy security”.
Cutting the Act would in Grimes’ opinion lock the UK into more expensive energy sources. “Solar power is now the cheapest source of electricity in the UK. In contrast, our ongoing dependence on fossil fuels has pushed up the price of power and heating.”
Solar Energy UK described the Act as a stable framework for creating jobs as well as cutting emissions, saying removing it would “betray the British public, businesses and communities”.
“We urge all political leaders to reject this regressive move and reaffirm their commitment to climate leadership,” the trade body said. “The UK must accelerate its transition to clean energy, not abandon it.”
On top of that Paul Ekins, professor of resources and environment at policy, UCL, described replacing the Act as an “egregious” move that would damage investment in the UK.
Michael Grubb, professor of energy and climate change, UCL, said businesses did not support scrapping the Act because they know that “the future lies in low-carbon energy and related innovation”.
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