Since January, independent think tank Green Alliance, which is focused on political leadership for the environment, has been running monthly Election Countdown webinars where a range of panellists, including lobby journalists and industry organisations, have been discussing the interplay of green issues and politics.
Chris Venables, deputy director of politics and partnerships at Green Alliance explained at the start of the series: “What happens this year in British politics really matters for the future of the planet.
“The decisions made by the leaders of the main parties on their policies and approach to the climate and nature crisis really will materially impact on the ability of the UK to deliver on its important environmental goals.”
In March, Green Alliance updated its Net Zero policy tracker, which monitors the government’s progress. According to the tracker, the UK remains off track to meet its net zero climate commitment by 2050 and leadership is lacking: “We have not yet seen the level of political leadership, covering all departmental briefs, required by any of the main political parties, nor comprehensive enough plans to meet our climate goals ahead of the general election.”
Green Alliance has called for all political parties to acknowledge and address the “significant policy gaps preventing the UK from meeting its legal and international obligations”. Noting that nearly 20% of emissions cuts needed are covered by policy still under consultation, it called on the government to “prioritise progressing policies held up at the consultation stage by confirming them before the end of this parliament”.
Read the entire article here: https://www.circularonline.co.uk/features/the-landscape-of-green-policies-ahead-of-the-2024-election/
