Climate change is a constant thorn in the side of government policy and action, holding officials to account in their role in reducing our carbon footprint and preserving the planet.
In June 2019, Parliament passed legislation requiring the UK to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050 in line with the 2016 Paris Agreement.
This agreement declared the existence of an existential climate crisis and how all participating countries must act to keep global warming below 2 degrees.
The Climate Change Committee stated how Britain’s goal is “technically feasible but highly challenging”, requiring determination and endurance to effectively reduce its carbon emissions by 2050.
The UK, however, is not on route to success and it does not seem like they will be anytime soon…
Recent developments with a Cumbrian council highlights government inefficiencies
In October 2020, the UK government and Cumbrian councillors gave the green light for the construction of a coal mine in Whitehaven.
This proposed £165million mine would produce 2.7 million tonnes of coal annually for steel production and would create a hub of jobs for the region.
Last Tuesday however, Cumbria’s county council were given new information regarding Britain’s carbon budgets which forced the immediate suspension of construction.
Despite government pressures on this county council to resume initial constructions plans, climate scientists, green groups, and politicians of the opposing party had something else to say on the matter.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband said, “The UK cannot claim to be a climate leader whilst opening a new coal mine and ministers need to realise that by doing so they undermine our credibility both at home and abroad.”
Whilst this new coal mine is set to create 500 new jobs for the region, is this really worth the irreversible consequences it will have for our planet?
How has the UK been underperforming?
Despite the impact of the Coronavirus on the UK – halting production and commuters in their tracks – carbon emissions in 2020 only fell by 10.3%.
Chief Executive of OGUK, Deirdre Michie, said, “Today’s report highlights that we have a unique opportunity for the transition towards a lower-carbon future to be homegrown in this country and potentially exported across the world.”
In November 2020, Boris Johnson announced government plans to introduce a spending budget of £4 billion in pursuit of a 10 point environmental plan. This came as a blow to the Green Party, however, who reminded the government of their £27 billion spending budget dedicated to their road-building programme.
Whilst the government preaches ‘their fight’ against our climate crisis – planning to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 – in practice, this is yet to be proven.
According to the Climate Change Committee, for the UK to meet zero carbon emissions by 2050, the UK government must spend £30 billion a year for the next 30 years, meaning our country is currently in a £26 billion deficit.
UK set to host the UN’s climate summit this November
This November, the UK is set to host the UN’s climate summit in Glasgow where leaders and officials from around the globe will meet to discuss the ramifications humanity has, and is continuing to have, on our planet and plans for future preservation.
Hosting such a prestigious summit is a pivotal point in Britain’s history in our strive towards a greener and more sustainable planet.
Why then, when our government preaches sustainability and green living, does it promote and encourage the production of a coal mine set to emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere that are detrimental to the safeguarding and preservation of our planet?
“Even if the coal mine is canned by Cumbria, this is still a global embarrassment for the UK in a year when we were supposed to be setting an example of climate action for the world to follow.”
The government’s take on the construction of this Cumbrian coal mine amplifies their stance on our current climate crisis and questions their efficacy as a government in protecting Britain from harmful carbon emissions.
What does this mean now?
The recent controversy surrounding the construction of this Cumbrian coal mine has certainly set a precedent for our government and questioned its efficacy in postponing developments that are detrimental to our current climate crisis.
Whilst construction plans may yet be scrapped, the UK government has succeeded in taking centre stage as a clear opposing power to existing climate struggles.
Madeleine Raine
Featured image courtesy of USGS via Unsplash. Image license is available here. No changes were made to this image.
Madeleine Raine
Mads is a 23-year-old History graduate from Newcastle University. She is passionate about current affairs and British news, with a keen interest in investigative features. Aside from this, she is an avid reader, photographer, and yogi.