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Liz Truss has fought a unique ‘war on nature’ in recent British politics: a conservation group with more than eight million members, foreign governments, climate change activists and members of her own party. within a few weeks.
Her successors may be expected to learn from this chastening experience and adopt a less confrontational attitude.
Cop27 kicks off on 6 November, with the UK handing over the presidency of the global UN climate negotiations to Egypt. Truss frowned on her in capitals around the world when she refused to say whether she would attend, the new prime minister confirmed her attendance and lifted a ban on the king’s visit You can repair her damage.
Also imminent is a decision on a potential new coal mine in Cumbria, an important test of the government’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The truss has angered the RSPB, the National Trust, the Wildlife Trust, and many other groups by threatening to repeal more than 570 EU-inherited regulations on environmental protection. She introduced new investment zones with minimal regulation, scrapped the new agricultural payment system and resumed fracking.
Action Network has installed a Climate Justice Monument at Lloyd’s of London. , Lloyd’s of London, City of London – October 29, 2021 Photo: Guy Bell/REX/Shutterstock
The next prime minister will also have to decide whether to continue with these policies. There’s a lot to show that a greener turn could be advantageous.
Reducing energy use is essential to keeping the lights on this winter, and renewables are now up to 9 times cheaper than gas.
But Truss has binned a publicity campaign on proposed energy conservation and has decided not to deal with the insulation of British airy homes, despite expert advice that this is the surest way to bring the bill down. refused. She also tried to block the development of a solar power plant.
A U-turn on these issues may be popular. Green policies have broad support. Polls consistently show a majority of voters wanting a response to the climate crisis, but issues such as sewage being discharged into rivers and beaches have sparked strong reactions across the country.
The new prime minister is also sure to shake up the cabinet, which could create a vacancy for the green-more-than-harvest Tories at the moment.
But while candidates for top jobs may seek to hone their green credentials, such efforts may be met with some skepticism, given Truss’ recent example.
When reviewing the candidate’s environmental record before the last leadership contest, The Guardian rated her the greenest, 1 out of 5.
Her allies were soon dispatched to claim her leading role at Cop26, commend her record as environment secretary, and assert her strong commitment to net-zero goals. In a televised debate, she even said that the main objective was to “prevent Alok Sharma from stepping down”. That’s what the Cabinet’s climate chief had threatened to step down if the candidate backed off on UK pledges.
So how does this time’s most likely candidate fare?
Rishi Snack
While prime minister, Sunak thwarted policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but imposed upfront investments in the finance ministry. This was a grave mistake as Britain lacked a true insulation policy just as energy prices began to skyrocket. A windfall tax on his oil and gas companies, brought in reluctantly, also included a major loophole that allowed companies to reinvest in fossil fuels. As Britain prepared to host the Cop26 UN climate summit, he cut foreign aid, disappointing developing countries.
Green score: 2/5
boris johnson
Despite his many flaws, Johnson passed three major environmental laws, setting truly world-beating targets on emissions and phasing out diesel and petrol cars, and banning fracking. , was praised worldwide for the UK’s management of the Cop26 summit. in Glasgow. But he also failed to grant new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea, remove planning barriers to onshore wind farms, and balked at potential new coal mines in Cumbria. As he fought to keep the premiership, the Green Tories warned he would be missed.
Green score: 4/5
Penny Mordaunt
Mordaunt, who says he will create “millions of green jobs” as prime minister, interviewed The Guardian in the last leadership contest and committed to the green farming plan set by Gove. “Environmentalism and conservatism go hand in hand,” she said. “When [it] It is a core principle of who I am, a person dedicated to the future of our world and the legacy we leave behind. But she is keen on cutting fuel taxes and her summer campaign was backed by her group of drivers, Robbie Fair Fuel UK.
Green score: 3/5
Ben Wallace
Wallace is not known for his comprehensive grasp of policy outside of defense, so his views on climate are less well known. However, he has previously pledged to make the military “greener”, and last year said he would “use greener jet fuel, recycle materials, reduce gas emissions and consume a lot of gas”. He also supports the goal of net zero by 2050.
Green score: 2/5
Kemi Badenoch
If Badenoch runs for leadership, he may have to answer questions on this issue again. This is due to an amazing double U-turn at the net his zero in the last leadership race. At the beginning of her summer contest, she likened her goal to “unilateral economic disarmament” and claimed to “bankrupt” the country. But then, with the climate change debate under Sharma’s attention, she stepped back and pledged to keep her 2050 goals if she became prime minister. But that evening, she appeared on her GB her news and said she would delay action on climate change.
Green score: 0/5
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