Thank you for contacting me about climate change.
It is crucial that we recognise the importance and urgency of action needed on climate change. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the world is warming faster than anticipated, the effects of which are being seen in every single region of our planet. Immediate global action is needed to limit warming, heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and loss of Arctic Sea ice, snow cover and permafrost.
The UK was the first G7 country to legislate to achieve net zero by 2050, and is decarbonising faster than any G20 country. In addition, we have set ambitious climate targets in law, such as a commitment to reduce emissions by 68 per cent by 2030, and also by 78 per cent by 2035, both compared to 1990 levels. This is not at the expense of economic growth: the UK has grown its economy by 75 per cent while cutting emissions by nearly 48 per cent since 1990.
However, the UK accounts for only approximately 1.2 per cent of global emissions; clearly, global action is required. When the UK took on the COP26 Presidency, in partnership with Italy, only 30 per cent of the world was covered by net zero targets. This figure is now at around 90 per cent.
The 2021 Spring Budget included: £640 million for tree planting and peatland restoration; over £1 billion towards electric vehicles transition; at least double funding for energy innovation; tax measures to reduce plastic waste; £15 billion of green gilt issuance to support vital projects, to fund critical infrastructure investment, and to create green jobs across the UK. In addition, the Ten Point Plan outlines how we will achieve net zero, mobilising £12 billion of Government investment to create up to 250,000 highly skilled green jobs in the UK, and tripling private sector investment by 2030. Included in the plan is £160 million investment into offshore wind to create 60,000 jobs, a commitment to produce enough offshore wind to power every home, quadrupling how much the UK produces to 40GW by 2030. Since the launch of the Ten Point Plan, £26 billion of government capital investment for the green industrial revolution has been mobilised. More than £5.8 billion of foreign investment in green projects has also been secured since the launch, along with at least 56,000 jobs in the UK’s clean industries.
The Net Zero Strategy sets out the Government’s long-term plan to cut emissions by 2050, including how a secure, home-grown energy sector will end the UK's dependency on foreign gas, and will protect consumers and businesses from volatile price hikes. I am glad that, by 2035, the UK will be powered entirely by clean electricity, subject to security of supply. At the same time, the Environment Act 2021 protects and improves the environment for future generations, enshrining in law environmental principles and legally binding targets.
The next decade is critical; every country, government, business and citizen must unite to tackle this huge threat to our planet and humanity.
On a more local level, I believe it is important for the Island to be able to attract green Tidal energy projects. I have spoken to Ministers about this on several occasions.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
