News • Climate Change and Nature
Monitoring government climate action
Green Alliance, who work with Sustain, launch their net zero policy tracker which will be used throughout 2020 to monitor government climate action in advance of the COP26 climate conference in November.
The Green Alliance believe that the UK has a vital role to play in leading the world response to the climate emergency. But it will only be credible in this role if its own house is in order, and the country is a long way from being on track to meet its own net zero goal.
Green Alliance analysis shows there is a gap of 313 MtCO2e to be met - 20% higher than needed to be on track for net zero.
Throughout 2020 Green Alliance will update the tracker and publicise any progress made, measuring two criteria:
- Projected carbon reductions from new policies
- Spending commitments needed to tackle the climate and nature emergency
The Green Alliance have proposed five policies, based on detailed analysis of their efficacy and carbon cutting potential, that could be implemented immediately. These include a 2030 target to phase out petrol and diesel cars and vans (as opposed to the government’s new promise of 2035), a new home energy efficiency programme, better product design standards for resource efficiency, new onshore wind and solar, and agriculture and land use policies to sequester and reduce carbon.
Published Wednesday 12 February 2020
Climate Change and Nature: Sustain has taken a keen interest in the rapidly accumulating evidence about the effect of food and farming on climate change and nature, as scientific evidence emerges that our food system is a very significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.
