Home advantage: a new centre-right vision for housing

Bright Blue has released its latest essay collection, ‘Home advantage: a new centre-right vision for housing’.

The housing situation in modern Britain is bleak. We struggle to build nearly as many homes as we have in past decades, real house prices are the highest in over a century, over two-thirds of renters have given up on the hope of owning a home and thousands remain homeless.

It does not have to be this way. This collection offers a glimmer of hope by presenting radical new ideas from leading decision makers and thought leaders in four key areas: security, community, stewardship and conservation. The hope is that this becomes a first step to a clear centre-right vision for providing Britain with the homes it needs.

With the fourth section of the collection about conservation, Sam Hall, the Director of the Conservative Environment Network, offers insightful analysis on decarbonising Britain’s housing stock.

You can read the essay collection here.

Greater and greener homes: more homes, ready for net zero

The UK is facing both a housing and climate crisis. We are not building enough homes. And the houses we do build are not green enough to support this country’s transition to a net-zero economy. Bolder public policy is needed to support both greater and greener homes.

This report outlines and examines the key changes in government policy since 2010 to increase housing supply and reduce carbon emissions from new homes, before proposing new policies to achieve two core policy objectives. First, to speed up the delivery of new homes where development is most sustainable, such as near workplaces, shops and sustainable transport links. Second, to ensure new homes are compliant with reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Picking up the pieces: tackling littering and fly-tipping in England

Fly-tipping and littering continues to cause economic, environmental and social damage to communities across the country. With fly-tipping incidents rising over the past three years and reports of littering increasing, it is clear that public policy needs to do more in order to tackle this serious problem.

The recommendations in this report, and ones previously recommended by Bright Blue, are not exhaustive and will not end fly-tipping and littering. But by acting on these recommendations, government can play its part in reducing the level of fly-tipping and littering, creating a robust policy framework upon which to build on in the future.

You can read the analysis here.

A carbonless crucible?

Since the industrial revolution, steelmaking has formed a critical part of the UK economy. However, existing modes of steel production are carbon-intensive and will need to be rapidly decarbonised for the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

UK steelmakers have faced significant challenges in recent years, especially higher energy prices and global trade distortions. But with the right policies and investment, the UK can have a competitive, world-leading ‘clean steel’ industry. This report outlines the pathways, challenges and policies for the development of a commercial market for clean steel in this country.

Greening UK Export Finance

Last year, the UK became the first country to actually implement – not just commit to – phase out of most financing and insurance from UK export Finance (UKEF) for the development of fossil fuel export projects overseas.

Despite this, the extent to which UKEF is fully aligned with the Paris Agreement generally remains unclear and doubtful. This reports seeks to investigate this further, offering recommendations to fully align UKEF with the Paris Agreement so it becomes a model that can help each countries spur necessary reforms in their ECA.

Fast track? European climate diplomacy after COP26

Climate change has no respect for national borders and as such can only be mitigated through international cooperation, demonstrating the importance of COP26 and climate diplomacy more broadly.

Despite the UK’s departure from the EU, there is still a case to be made for close cooperation between the two on climate change. This collection of essays, authored by UK politicians, members of the European Parliament, academics and thought leaders highlights policies and priorities for both the UK and the EU across the dimensions of climate security, migration and innovation.

In Deep Water? Mapping the impacts of flooding in the UK since 2007

Flooding is one of the most serious climate-related risks that the UK faces. A clear understanding of how it is affecting or could affect specific key public services, critical infrastructure  and key businesses is fundamental to improving national resilience.

Using a unique methodology based on artificial intelligence, this report assesses the impacts of flooding and related hazards in the UK since 2007. It puts forward a range of recommendations to bolster the UK’s resilience towards flooding in the decades ahead.

Green money: A plan to reform UK carbon pricing

The UK’s current system for pricing carbon is inadequate, inconsistent and unequal. Not only must carbon pricing go much further if the UK is to reach net zero by 2050, but taxes on pollution must also be made fairer in order to equalise the impacts of carbon pricing on different sectors of the economy and build political support for reform.

This report proposes a three-part plan for reforming the UK’s carbon pricing framework. The UK must place a consistent price on all carbon emissions; take effective action by 2030; and, build a lasting public and political consensus around carbon pricing.

Nature positive? Public attitudes towards the natural environment

The state of the natural environment in the UK and overseas is in critical condition, with habitats being lost and species in decline. More ambitious policies from government are required to protect and enhance the natural environment, as are behavioural changes from individuals to minimise their environmental impact.

This report examines UK public attitudes towards the natural environment. It looks at how the public engages with, values and rates the natural environment, who they believe is responsible for its protection and enhancement, and what needs to be done by both government and individuals to safeguard it.

Driving uptake: maturing the market for battery electric vehicles

As the UK’s largest emitting sector, decarbonising transport is critical to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Over half of all emissions emanating from the transport sector come from passenger vehicles. As such, the uptake of battery electric vehicles, which produce zero emissions, is essential to curbing emissions from the transport sector.

This report examines the key barriers to battery electric vehicle uptake among households and businesses in the UK and explores policies adopted both in the UK and abroad to catalyse the battery electric vehicle market. It concludes by recommending new policies to mature the market for battery electric vehicles in the UK.

Going greener? Public attitudes to net zero

The UK has made a legal commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but this is only the first step in a long and difficult journey. The profound changes that will need to be made by individuals, the government and businesses will be highly disruptive.

This report examines attitudes towards the credibility of, responsibility for, and the behavioural changes and policies for delivering net zero. There is a particular focus on perceptions around the decarbonisation of the supply of and demand for energy.

Delivering net zero: Building Britain's resilient recovery

Last year, the UK became the first major economy in the world to commit to net zero emissions by 2050. Whilst there has been some progress towards this target, the UK is currently not on track to achieving this.

Deeper decarbonisation of the UK economy is required. This collection of essays, authored by leading chief executives, politicians, academics and thought leaders from across the private, public and third sectors, highlights policies and projects across different economic sectors that are supporting and could support the journey to deliver net zero.

High and dry?: Preventing tomorrow's "flood ghettos"

The severe flooding of last November and December, as well as recent Storms Ciara and Dennis, have brought renewed focus on whether the Government is doing enough to protect and support high flood risk communities, both before and after flood events. For some hard hit places, for example in the Doncaster area, it has been the second or third major flood event they have experienced in two decades.

The UK needs to become a climate ready nation. We know that flooding is going to get worse with climate change. This means not only that we develop foresight on physical impacts and effective adaptation policies at a technical level, but also that we understand the human impact. Supporting flood-hit communities, rather than leaving them to shoulder crippling financial impacts alone, is a clear test of whether we can respond to climate change as a decent society.

Global green giant? A policy story

The world is beginning to wake up to the fact that global biodiversity is declining. Urgent global attention and action is required now. Climate change, overfishing, changes in land and sea use, and invasive alien species are all contributors to this. In the UK, we are witnessing the decline of species and their habitats.

The UK is a global leader on climate change, but now there is a need and opportunity to do the same for biodiversity - to become a global green giant on conservation. After many months of exploration, of consultation, and of thinking, this policy story provides a comprehensive set of recommendations to be used by the Government to bolster its agenda in making the UK a conservation nation.

Emission impossible? Air pollution, national governance, and the transport sector

Stronger evidence has emerged in recent years about the detrimental impact of air pollution to human health, the economy and the environment. Consequently, there is growing public and political pressure for tougher action to reduce levels of air pollution in the UK. The report focuses on the sources of, impacts of, and attitudes towards air pollution across the whole of the UK.

The UK’s departure from the EU means that there is an opportunity to raise air pollution standards in the UK. The report proposes new, ambitious legal limits, legal responsibilities and policies on air pollution.

Pressure in the pipeline: decarbonising the UK's gas

Decarbonising the UK’s gas network presents one of the most significant political and economic challenges facing the UK. Natural gas delivered by the network has been a mainstay of our energy system for more than 50 years. However, the continued use of unabated natural gas is inconsistent with meeting the UK’s legally binding greenhouse gas emissions target.

This report examines the key issues concerning deeper decarbonisation of the gas network. It concludes by recommending new policies for the UK to reduce natural gas use and decarbonise the gas network affordably and with minimal disruption.

Clearing the air: reducing air pollution in the West Midlands

Air pollution, especially in urban areas, is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. A growing evidence base shows that exposure to air pollution is associated with significant negative impacts on human health and productivity.

This report examines the scale of, consequences of and public attitudes towards air pollution in the West Midlands. It concludes by proposing new transport policies for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and its seven constituent local authorities to adopt to reduce air pollution in the region.

Conservation nation: protecting and restoring the natural world

Nature is facing unparalleled threats. Under Conservative Governments this decade, there has been progress on nature conservation, at home and abroad. But there is still much more to do, including in policy design and public funding.

This book brings together leading experts, policymakers, opinion formers, and politicians both from conservative and independent backgrounds to explore proposals, and mobilise support across the political spectrum for future conservation efforts.

Saving global nature: greening UK Official Development Assistance

The natural world is facing unparalleled threats. The fragility of the environment not only threatens the flora and fauna for which we are custodians, but the future prosperity of communities around the world.

Given the UK's substantial international aid budget and expertise, there is a compelling case for the UK to lead international efforts to conserve global nature.

Greater focus and funding for global nature conservation through the UK’s international aid budget, particularly through charismatic UK branded projects and programmes, would also capture the imagination of the public.

This report sets out the case for increasing UK aid for nature, how this will support sustainable development, and the policy mechanisms required to successfully deliver UK leadership

Hotting up: strengthening the Climate Change Act ten years on

Ten years ago, the UK passed the world’s first Climate Change Act that inspired other countries to adopt similar climate laws. Following the ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the UK has another opportunity to lead internationally with its climate change policies.

This report sets out the scientific, technological, legal, and political case for deeper decarbonisation of the UK economy in the decades ahead. It proposes new policies to enable this, including the UK strengthening the Climate Change Act and adopting a new legal net zero emission target.