Climate opportunity for new UK government

The Labour Party has set out a number of key climate policies in its election manifesto which, if implemented, will send a positive signal that the UK can and does act to tackle the climate crisis.

The first one is achieve clean energy by 2030: This would bring emissions into line with the UK’s CAT benchmark of 96-98% clean energy by 2030. This will take a Herculean effort, but it is absolutely achievable and is likely to lead to lower UK electricity bills. It would also send a strong message to the international community: that a fossil-free energy sector is achievable. Achieving this target could accelerate the clean energy race in other countries.

However, emissions from the energy sector accounted for just 14% of UK emissions in 2023, while transport and buildings accounted for 28% and 20% respectively. Action is urgently needed in these sectors too.

The work is aimed at double investment in energy efficiency of buildings: that is key, but the government needs to ensure that the funds go to those who need them most, those who are experiencing energy poverty. That is a vital part of the just transition framework for the country.

Prime Minister Starmer should think carefully about his promise to reverse the ban on new gas boilers. Credible long-term bans on fossil fuel technologies can be – and have been – very useful in setting a clear direction for the sector and should not be abandoned.

ON transport, Restoring 2030 as the end date for new petrol and diesel car sales would be welcome. However, it remains unclear how the government will achieve a zero-emission transport sector, with detailed plans for public transport, a clear commitment to halt airport expansion and more still lacking.

One of the main challenges in the transport sector is aircraftThe previous administration’s “Jet Zero” strategy for aviation emissions will lead to further growth in the aviation sector, and airport expansions are planned across the country, despite the clear recommendations to the contrary from the Committee on Climate Change.

This policy is heavily reliant on fossil fuel offsets and the (currently very tight and expensive) supply of sustainable aviation fuels. Allowing aviation emissions to continue to grow by the projected 70% between 2021 and 2050 and simply offsetting them is a deeply flawed strategy. Neither Starmer nor Miliband have yet given any indication of a planned exit from this policy. (See our analysis of the UK aviation sector for more details.)

Another key policy of the Labour Party is stop new investments in oil and gas in the North Sea. This is in line with the IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario, which states that there must be no new investment in fossil fuel exploration or production if we are to limit warming to 1.5ºC. However, Labour has missed the opportunity to cancel oil fields that have already received consent but are still in the development phase, such as the massive Rosebank oil field. This is a carbon bomb that can and should be avoided.