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Net zero strategy: Tory MPs’ anger over Treasury assessment on high costs
Treasury document suggests move to electric vehicles could hit poorer citizens hardest
Anger is growing across the Conservative party over a Treasury document on the costs of the net zero strategy which MPs claim has been “neutered” – though sources insisted estimates had not been reliable enough to include.
Alongside Boris Johnson’s strategy to end Britain’s contribution to the climate crisis by 2050, the Treasury released an assessment warning it may need to raise taxes or cut public spending to fund the strategy.
Continue reading...EU’s east-west wealth divide may widen if climate overhaul falters – think-tank
Microplastics are in the air we breathe and in Earth’s atmosphere, and they affect the climate
The UK’s net zero strategy still avoids what is needed to avert climate catastrophe | Rebecca Newsom
Fairness is vital if people are not to be left behind, but although the government is now saying the right things, its actions lag behind
The collection of new climate policies released by the government this week are being scrutinised for their ambition and effectiveness. But it is also crucial to judge them for their fairness. We need to reduce total emissions as rapidly as possible – “fairness” at a macro level means protecting poorer countries that have done little to cause the problem, and those countries that have emitted the most overall, such as the UK, moving fastest.
At a more micro level, fairness is also vital. The move to net zero will lead to major changes across all aspects of UK society, and a lot of less well-off people are understandably worrying whether they can afford to cut their emissions. It’s essential to design policies so that this transition is fair for individuals and that no one is left behind. This is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes sense politically: if fairness is not baked in then people will resist change, and that reasonable resentment will be magnified and manipulated by those seeking to delay action for other reasons.
Rebecca Newsom is head of politics at Greenpeace UK
Continue reading...Heavy industries urge EU leaders to step in to ease energy crisis
We need to stop buying stuff – and I know just the people to persuade us | Adrian Chiles
Our ridiculous addiction to acquiring more possessions is stuffing up the planet, so it’s time to call in the experts
Ages ago, an old friend who was an early adopter of environmental concerns wanted a new kitchen. He asked an expert he knew from his work in woodland conservation what wood his new kitchen should be built with. He was startled to get a sharp response: “If you really care, then don’t come to me asking which wood to use; ask yourself if you really need a new kitchen.” Point taken, but not much acted upon, by him, me or anyone else I’ve come across.
I’m so sick of stuff. Some of it is stuff I really need or that is at least genuinely nice to have, but a good 70% is useless stuff. Clothes I’ll never wear, books I’ll never read, kitchen utensils I’ll never utilise. Items big and small that presumably felt essential the day I bought them but turned out to be quite the opposite. I suppose that as I get older the 70% figure will grow and grow until the morning of the day I shuffle off this mortal coil. At this point the percentage of stuff I own that is useless to me will stand at a nice round 100, because, of course, I won’t be able to take it with me. But what I will be able to do is leave it to my children to bump up the percentage of stuff useless to them that they own. And so it goes on.
Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer and Guardian columnist
Climate plan urging plant-based diet shift deleted
UK meat tax and frequent-flyer levy proposals briefly published then deleted
Government ‘nudge unit’ document published alongside net zero strategy before being withdrawn within hours
A blueprint to change public behaviour to cut carbon emissions, which includes levies on high-carbon food and a reduction in frequent flying, was published alongside the government’s net zero strategy on Tuesday, before being withdrawn within a few hours.
Produced by the behavioural insights team, or “nudge unit”, the document, Net Zero: principles for successful behaviour change initiatives, emphasises that tackling the climate crisis requires “significant behavioural change”. The behaviours the British public may have to reduce include a significant reduction in demand for high-carbon activities such as flying and eating ruminant meat.
Continue reading...Australia ranked worst amongst international peers for climate action, fossil fuel use
Australia ranked last among developed countries for climate action, due to its poor track record on emissions and its ongoing dependence on fossil fuels.
The post Australia ranked worst amongst international peers for climate action, fossil fuel use appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Your green credentials may be linked to your genes, study says
Identical twins have more similar views on environmental issues than non-identical ones, research finds
Some people are more environmentally conscious than others, and scientists say the reason could be in their genes.
A study has found that identical twins have more similar views on conservation and environmentalism than non-identical twins. The researchers say this suggests there could be a link between people’s genetic makeup and their support for green policies.
Continue reading...What is Climate Justice?
COP26: Russia's Vladimir Putin will not attend climate summit
Euro Markets: Midday Update
MPs set to reject move to make water firms cut sewage discharges
Government opposes proposed amendment to environment bill designed to protect rivers
The government is to reject calls to place a legal duty on water companies to reduce raw sewage discharges into rivers.
MPs will debate the environmental bill on Wednesday in its final stages through parliament, and clean water campaigners want them to back what they say is a key amendment on sewage that was agreed in the House of Lords.
Continue reading...Young climate activists vow to keep fighting despite UN setback
Children’s rights body rejects landmark case by group of activists including Greta Thunberg
A group of youth activists say they have been spurred to fight even harder after their landmark case arguing that countries perpetuating the climate crisis violate their human rights was rejected by a UN children’s rights body.
Greta Thunberg and 15 other activists from around the world filed their case accusing Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Turkey of violating their rights to life, health and culture under the convention on the rights of the child by failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions to levels that would restrict global warming to 1.5C, in accordance with the Paris agreement.
Continue reading...Western Australia govt clears way to earn carbon offsets from forestry
Is the UK's green plan enough to halt climate change?
China releases carbon neutrality framework, eyes 80% non-fossil in energy mix by 2060
MPs urge pension schemes to cushion economic effects of UK’s net zero plan
Cross-party group says regions could be devastated by a rapid switch to low-carbon technologies without investment
Public sector pension schemes could deepen divisions in society unless they use their billions of pounds of investment to cushion communities pivoting away from carbon-intensive industries such as steel and carmaking, MPs have said.
The cross-party group argues towns and regions of the UK could be devastated by a rapid switch to low-carbon technologies, leaving them to face the same future as mining towns hit by pit closures in the 1980s, unless pension funds take account of the impact of investments on vulnerable households and businesses.
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