New Committee on Climate Change report criticises the UK's climate change action

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has today released their annual progress report, Progress in Preparing for Climate Change - 2019 Progress Report to Parliament.

The report addresses the UK’s current progress on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the policies generating this reduction, and the UK’s adaption to climate change.

The CCC suggests that the UK is not on track for its recent net zero GHG emissions target by 2050. Indeed, more damningly, the CCC argue the UK is not on track to meet its past, less ambitious, target of an 80% reduction in GHGs by the same date.

Read the CCC’s full report here, and coverage from the BBC here.

Net zero greenhouse gas emissions target law begins passage through Parliament

Yesterday, the draft law to create a net zero emissions target for the UK by 2050 was put to Parliament by Chris Skidmore MP, who is currently a joint Minister of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department of Education.

The draft law proposes updating the existing greenhouse gas emissions reduction target set by the Climate Change Act 2008 of an 80% reduction by 2050 to 100% by the same year.

Such action follows Theresa May’s announcement of the net zero target earlier this month before her departure from office. This follows the Committee on Climate Change’s influential Net Zero report, arguing for the adoption of a legal net zero emissions goal by 2050 at the very latest - as Bright Blue has previously campaigned for.

Read more about the proposed law currently making its way through parliament here, the CCC’s Net Zero report here, and Bright Blue’s response to the CCC’s report here.

How the UK could lead the Commonwealth on climate change

Our Head of Research, Sam Hall, has written for ConservativeHome on how the UK could lead the Commonwealth on climate change. In his article, Sam praised the Government for positioning itself towards adopting a net zero target for carbon emissions. 

Citing Bright Blue polling, Sam also referenced the fact that when asked how quickly the UK should cut its emissions relative to other countries, a large majority of UK adults (90%) believe the UK should cut its emissions at least as quickly as other countries.

Read the full article here.

UK on path to ‘zero carbon’ economy

Our Head of Research, Sam Hall, was quoted in an article in the Telegraph on British voters' attitudes towards a net zero carbon emissions target. He said "demonstrating international leadership on climate change" would be a politically expedient move for the Conservative Party in its desire to attract younger voters, without compromising votes from existing supporters. 

Read the full article here.

UK emissions are falling fast. Now the country might try for zero

Bright Blue's polling on British attitudes towards a cutting carbon emissions to net zero within the next few decades was featured on Vox. 

In our polling, we found that most people support the UK demonstrating international leadership on tackling climate and see economic benefits from doing so. The polling also revealed that there was significant support for cutting the UK's carbon emissions to zero, as the Minister of State for Clean Growth and Energy, the Rt Hon Claire Perry MP, hinted at this week. 

Read the full article here.

The UK needs a political revival - Could the environment hold the key to a centrist resurgence?

Bright Blue's polling on political priorities amongst British voters was covered in an article on BusinessGreen.

It referenced how climate change was the number one issue which 18-24 year old voters felt senior politicians did not discuss enough.

Read the full article here.

Claire Perry to instruct Committee on Climate Change to scope net zero goal

Our Head of Research, Sam Hall, has been quoted in an article on BusinessGreen in response to the announcement made by the Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, the Rt Hon Claire Perry MP, that the United Kingdom should explore tighter carbon controls and a goal of having net zero carbon emissions. Our polling, which showed that 64% of UK adults agree the UK should aim to cut its emissions to zero over the next few decades was also cited.

Sam said that by "adopting a net zero target, the government is therefore seizing a great opportunity to appeal to key younger voters without trading off existing voters". 

Read the full article here.

Climate change latest: UK becomes first developed economy to examine Paris agreement commitments

Bright Blue's polling on British attitudes towards a cutting carbon emissions to net zero within the next few decades was featured in an article by the Independent. 

In our polling, we found that most people support the UK demonstrating international leadership on tackling climate and see economic benefits from doing so. The polling also revealed that there was significant support for cutting the UK's carbon emissions to zero, as the Minister of State for Clean Growth and Energy, the Rt Hon Claire Perry MP, hinted at this week. 

Read the full article here.