NEWS EXTRA NET ZERO 2050:
As we come towards the end of a very strange year in which we have a General Election a fortnight before Christmas, Brett Amphlett, BMF Policy & Public Affairs’ Manager, looks back at two significant moments worthy of further consideration by merchants.
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change in the law at the end of June amended the Climate Change Act 2008 in favour of more insulation and low-carbon heating, coupled with a shift in public attitude by people of all ages wanting to see more radical action to halt climate change, means the future for low-carbon heating products has never been more positive
Climate obligations
In February 2019, the Committee on Climate Change published a report that concluded the United Kingdom cannot meets its climate obligations without major improvements in housing. Throughout its 135 pages, the “UK Housing: Fit for the Future” report is stark in its lookout - namely that without deep, far-reaching efforts to decarbonise new and existing homes, the United Kingdom will not meet its legally-binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Committee found that reductions in household emissions have stalled while energy use has increased. This report was unflinching in its criticism: cost-effective action to adapt and improve housing has not been done at anywhere near the level required. This is largely due to poorly-designed policies that failed, or were under-resourced, or both. Stop-start government initiatives like the Zero Carbon Homes Standard and the Green Deal simply failed to drive either the scale or the rate of home improvements required.
Net zero carbon emissions In May 2019, the Committee published another report - “Net Zero: UK Contribution to Stop Global Warming” - that received widespread attention in not only political and business circles - but also amongst the public at large. In this 277-page report, the CCC recommended a new UK emissions’ target to go beyond the existing one - 80% reduction in
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In the last weeks of the Theresa May Government, ministers amended the Climate Change Act 2008 to legislate for this 100% reduction in emissions by 2050 - making the UK the first major industrial economy to do so. This means (for example) working towards an end to petrol & diesel cars, gas boilers and short-haul flights. A row erupted between 10 and 11 Downing Street because the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, claimed it will cost £1 trillion to implement, necessitating more public spending cuts.
emissions by 2050 relative to 1990 levels - as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008. The Committee carried out a thorough appraisal of the costs and benefits to the UK economy in deep, long-term reductions in emissions from major industries - notably farming, housing & transport. The CCC recommended that politicians should seek to end the UK’s entire contribution to global warming within 30 years - namely to zero. To meet UK commitments made in 2015 as a signatory to the United Nation’s COP 21 Paris Agreement, the CCC recommended a 100% reduction in emissions by 2050 relative to 1990 levels. This concept of “Net Zero” caught on in the public consciousness and led to widespread protests around the country - notably children refusing to go to school on Fridays and adults glueing themselves to trains to disrupt London commuters. This desire is also expressed in opinion polls that found support among students and pensioners for de-carbonisation of the economy.
Net Zero will only succeed if (after the General Election) newly-elected politicians understand properly the implications - and adopt policies that force economic, financial & industrial change by consumers and businesses to match the wish of voters for “something to be done”. Science and business understand how net zero can be achieved but it is for elected politicians to provide the policy frameworks and pathways. This requires a combination of new regulation; preferential tax treatment for product innovation; investment in training & skills to replace and equip an aging workforce; and advice and information for consumers to make carbon- friendly choices.
Today’s policies are insufficient to meet carbon budgets and targets. The way new homes are built and existing homes retrofitted often falls short of required standards. Other policies are too slow, suffer from poor implementation, are under-funded or lack adequate monitoring & enforcement. The BMF will lobby the new Government for unambiguous, fully-costed and balanced plans to decarbonise heating and electrify homes. Some of the components required to achieve Net Zero are already here. But significant acceleration and up-scaling is required by government and business - notably insulation of all types as a precursor to low-carbon
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2019
TOWARDS A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY
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