Framing the UK's environmental ambition: a pre-election insight

As the upcoming General Election approaches, the UK stands at a pivotal juncture to redefine its environmental ambitions for the next half-decade. Despite the 2019 enshrinement of a 2050 Net Zero target, progress towards this goal has faced substantial criticism. Accelerating this journey requires a collective shift in focus, steering the nation towards a sustainable future.

Decarbonisation and the circular economy

Achieving decarbonisation demands a departure from traditional production models towards a 'circular' economy. This paradigm shift transforms the outdated 'take-make-waste' approach into a 'reuse-recycle-renew' framework, emphasising sustainability and resource efficiency. Both the Conservative and Labour parties are central to this transformation. Both present visions for a green and sustainable UK, but the effectiveness of their promises remains under scrutiny.

The Conservative approach: market-driven sustainability

The Conservative Party champions market power, innovation, and the private sector as catalysts for sustainability. Incentive-led policies foster investment and innovation, while regulations target major sustainability offenders. Since committing to the 2050 NZ goal, the Conservatives have invested in offshore wind, positioning the UK as a potential global leader in this sector. However, recent statements lack specific gigawatt (GW) targets, raising concerns about commitment and transparency.

Home energy efficiency improvements have seen reductions, citing cost concerns for families, and the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars has been delayed from 2030 to 2035. In circular economy policies, the government introduced the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022 and a ban on certain single-use plastics in October 2023, aiming to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042.

Proposed measures include a levy to enhance recyclable packaging, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and banning plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries.

Labour's approach: a 'green Industrial Revolution'

Labour envisions a green industrial revolution, aspiring to a zero-waste society powered by renewable energy and ambitious recycling targets. However, the roadmap to these goals requires further clarity. The party proposes "Great British Energy", a public entity focused on renewable energy and energy independence. Labour also pledges to retrofit one million homes annually for energy efficiency and aims for 60% of the UK’s electricity to come from wind, solar, and nuclear by 2030.

Despite these aspirations, Labour faced criticism for retracting its £28 billion annual NZ investment pledge, citing economic challenges. In circularity, the party commits to addressing plastic pollution and waste through EPR measures and bottle-return schemes, alongside investments in recyclable materials to reduce ocean pollution.

SNP and Liberal Democrats: regional and regulatory efforts

The SNP’s decarbonisation plans include phasing out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, decarbonising domestic flights within Scotland by 2040, and significant investments in active travel infrastructure. Their energy strategy targets 50% renewable generation by 2030, supported by the Circular Economy Bill and a comprehensive waste route map. However, the Scottish government has faced criticism from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) regarding the credibility of its emissions targets.

The Liberal Democrats advocate a mix of regulatory action, market incentives, and investments in greening energy systems. Proposals include free retrofits for low-income homes, generous tax incentives for other households, and a "Net Zero Delivery Authority" to empower local authorities. Their goal is Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045, with 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030, complemented by an ambitious tree-planting program.

The Green Party: radical policies for a sustainable future

The Green Party proposes an aggressive carbon tax, escalating from £100 per tonne to £500 by 2030, and aims for 100 GW of renewable energy by the same year. Their transport revolution includes cancelling carbon-intensive road-building projects, removing fossil fuel vehicles by 2030, reducing air miles by 70%, and halting airport expansions.

In promoting circularity, the Greens plan to establish a "Natural Resources Department," introduce Resource Taxation to incentivize recycled material use, and enact a Waste Avoidance and Recycling Act. These measures aim to minimise disposable products and boost recycling, supported by further investments in recycling technology and renewable resource research.

Evaluating promises and policies:

• As the UK heads towards the General Election, the nation's environmental future hangs in the balance.
• The Conservative and Labour parties, alongside the SNP, Liberal Democrats, and Greens, offer diverse approaches to sustainability and circularity.
• Each party's policies must be critically evaluated to ensure they are robust enough to drive the necessary changes for a greener, more sustainable UK.
• The election provides a crucial opportunity to set a definitive course towards environmental stewardship for the coming decades.

Carl Dodd, Property Revolutions Ltd.