Cutting Carbon Now update

The past year has seen a momentous shift in the public and political discourse around climate change. The IPCC’s report last October set a tone of urgency, and movements such as Extinction Rebellion and the youth climate strikes have kept the issue at the top of the agenda. In June, the government took the historic step to introduce a target of making the UK economy net zero carbon by 2050.

In 2015, ahead of the Paris climate change conference, Green Alliance brought party leaders together to ratify a cross party agreement, committing to take action. Four years on, we are preparing for the next major conference, COP26, to be hosted by the UK and Italy in 2020, by leading the Cutting Carbon Now project. This will build momentum, collaborating with other climate focused organisations, to champion the policies needed to meet carbon reduction targets in the short term, and get the UK on track for a net zero future.

This new newsletter will keep you posted on the project’s progress and activities, including sectoral convening and upcoming events. You have been added to the mailing list as someone we have worked with on these issues or who we thought might be interested in knowing about the project. (You can unsubscribe below if you would rather not receive these updates).

Assuming you are happy to go on receiving news about Cutting Carbon Now, we look forward to keeping you in the picture.

Best wishes,

Paul McNamee
Head of politics, Green Alliance

A thriving economy with net zero emissions is desirable and possible but, to get there within the next 30 years, the government has to act now. We propose five policies across the economy that could be put in place immediately. See our infographic.

“The environmental movement has won the permission to be heard, but what do we have to say?” said Ed Miliband at our ‘Acting on net zero now’ event, co-hosted with IPPR during London Climate Action Week in July. Listen to the highlights of the event on our podcast.

2. Government investment in climate solutions

We have worked with other NGOs to identify the spending requirements needed to tackle the environment emergency and get us on track to meeting our climate targets. This report calls on the Treasury to commit five per cent of government spending every year for the next three years to get us on track to meeting our climate and nature targets.

The chancellor’s spending review earlier this month was underwhelming, but there are several other opportunities to promote our message on spending in the coming months, including the National Infrastructure Strategy and annual budget, which are both due in autumn.

3. Cutting transport emissions

Last week, we hosted a roundtable on cutting transport emissions. We brought together transport, air quality and environmental organisations to discuss shared objectives for policy across aviation, surface transport and active travel. The transport sector presents a particular block on meeting carbon targets, as the biggest emitting UK sector, and its emissions are continuing to rise. The Department for Transport is failing to recognise its vital role in tackling climate emissions and it was suggested that a more joined-up effort to push for change across different organisations and sectors would be useful.

It was agreed to meet on a regular basis, with the next roundtable taking place in October. If you would like to come to the next session, please email pmcnamee@green-alliance.org.uk

4. COP26 convening

Through the Cutting Carbon Now project, we have hosted several roundtables on the subject of the next major climate summit in 2020 (COP26) which will be hosted by the UK. We will continue to convene interested parties in the run up to the conference, with a focus on the UK government’s domestic policy delivery and how this relates to its positioning as a global leader. If you are interested in attending these roundtables, please email pmcnamee@green-alliance.org.uk