The recent heat wave has been a poignant reminder of the urgency of the climate crisis. Global warming is a transnational issue that doesn’t discriminate against national boundaries; what we do here will affect the world out there and what the world does will invariably impact us. That’s why we need to come together, not only as a country, but as coalition of nations banded together to confront climate altering human activity.
Earlier this month, the Government set out its proposed level for the seventh Carbon Budget. The new target is set at an approximate 87% reduction in emissions between 2038-2042. Achieving this goal would be impossible if it were not for this Government’s commitment to attaining net zero and transitioning to a clean energy backed economy.
British growth doesn’t need to come at the cost of our planet, and we can boost our economy through climate action. The net zero economy is one of the fastest growing sectors here in the UK; it’s supporting over 1 million jobs and is adding £105 billion in gross value added to our economy in 2025 alone. And when half of the UK’s recessions since 1970 have been because of fossil fuel shocks, a clean transition will not only protect the planet, but families and businesses that are vulnerable to sudden price increases. By 2050, reliance on fossil fuels will be cut from 75% to 15%, and this also avoids £445 billion in fossil fuel spending over the next 25 years.
Only last week, the UK hit a £100 billion milestone in clean energy private investment. By liaising with our international partners, we were able to secure an extra £9 billion in investment from Japan for the UK’s offshore wind industry.
While it’s true that these developments are crucial for the clean energy transition, we must work for climate action around the world as well. Under new proposals in the Environment Act, UK businesses will need to check that their supply chains are not contributing to deforestation if they deal with goods like soy, cocoa, or palm oil.
By truly committing to a clean energy transition, we can show that growth, job creation, and a prosperous future can work hand in hand with protecting our environment and serving the natural world.