The Guardian reports this morning that:
A majority of the UK public and almost half of Conservative voters support a radical plan to transform the economy and tackle the climate crisis, a poll suggests.
YouGov found that 56% of people back the total decarbonisation of the UK economy by 2030 and just under half support public spending to make large swathes of public transport free to use.
The findings appear to highlight a growing awareness of the scale of the climate crisis and the increasingly radical policy solutions the public is willing to support.
Last week a separate survey found that the climate emergency would influence how most people vote, with almost two-thirds agreeing it was the biggest issue facing humankind.
The new poll, commissioned by Green New Deal UK, a non-party-aligned campaign group, found that 47% of Conservative voters back a zero-emissions target by 2030, compared with just 16% who support the government's current aim of reaching that point by 2050.
I am delighted by the poll finding.
I also want to make clear that the Green New Deal UK is a broader coalition than the Green New Deal Group. We're friends, but not the same.
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I have always campaigned for 2030 and in particular that the UK should be first to reach zero carbon (first in with the industrial revolution and first out with the green transition). Realistically I would be very happy if we get 90% of the way there by 2030. It is good to see that this is now becoming more widely accepted, however on the ground we are still seeing very little or at best very slow change and consequently the scale of the challenge keeps on rising. Still 80% of our energy comes from fossil fuels. We have hardly even begun to seriously address this.
There is a great opportunity at this election and it is not to get brexit done. Let’s get the green transition done.
Agreed
It’s good to know that people are finally recognising that climate change is a serious issue that needs resolving. However, I doubt whether it’s technically possible to achieve the total decarbonisation of the UK economy in just over 10 years. It would be a mammoth task to convert our infrastructure within that time and the dusruption to industry, business and persoanl life would probably be unacceptable. Does total decarbonisation also apply to our imports, or will we still rate imports, including electricity from coal fired stations, as zero carbon.
Not only would we need to close all our existing fossil fuel power stations, we would need to stop steel and cement production, scrap most of our road transport, completely re-equip our armed forces with zero carbon equipment, change the way we heat our houses and increase the capacity of our electricity generating capacity by a factor of two or three.
2050 is too late, 2040 might be doable. Bearing in mind, Germany intends to keep coal fired power stations on line until 2038, we’d be well ahead of everybody else!
A tough target can work, but an impossible target usually ends with the implementers being disillusioned and giving up.
There’s a point where being ambitious with a target becomes being silly!
If we don’t target 2030 we won’t make 2040
That’s the issue….
Robin Trow says:
“There’s a point where being ambitious with a target becomes being silly!”
That’s true, but I’m not sure the 2030 target is in the ‘silly’ category. The very real danger of putting the target a decade later is that the process which needed to start a decade ago (at least) will just get put off by yet another decade as politicians decide the next lot can deal with it.
We need to instil a sense of urgency, I think.
Absolutely right
This cannot wait
And it will be much worse if we wait
Are you saying the total decarbonisation of the UK by 2030 will save the planet?..but we are only 1% of total emissions? Basically the UK is a rounding error in the grand scheme of things don’t you think?
In my opinion we rely on technological advancement to cut global emissions as global is the key term. That is the only way the big polluting countries will fall into line. It won’t be through a change in behaviour, well not in the timescale you are considering.
And if we could do it we could prove everyone could do it
You would have a problem with that?
Why?
Why object to change? Don’t you know that all change requires someone to start the process? Why shouldn’t we do that?
Do you ever get this feeling that we’re stuck in a country of double think?
We’re exceptional, world leaders, but we shouldn’t lead the way because it wouldn’t make any difference.
To those up-thread commenting or complaining about how big a task decarbonising is, I say this:
Yes it is. It’s a huge task. Monumental, in fact.
But is it worth doing? – yes
Is 2030 a tough target? – hell yes, it is
Does it matter is we miss the target? – arguably yes, but it matters even more if we do nothing, starting now.
To quote Charles Adams from a previous blog/discussion thread “it’s the area under the carbon curve that matters” ie we need to start cutting carbon emissions now to bring the curve down.
Finally, to all the naysayers – why are you so against the idea of a green new deal? Even the successful implementation of some of the least ambitious goals would improve many people’s lives considerably.
So what is there to dislike? Please tell me. But try to avoid the usual complaints of “the uk is only 1% of global emissions/it’ll be difficult”.
Yes it will be difficult, but it’s unavoidable and well worth doing.
Agreed!
I totally agree Richard. Someone has to lead by example, to set the standard. And the rest will follow. Why not the UK.
Indeed
Paul Simonon says:
“Are you saying the total decarbonisation of the UK by 2030 will save the planet?…”
I’ve looked back and the post and I can’t see that anywhere. Perhaps Richard has edited since you read it 🙂
Think of the export potential if we develop leading technology. Try and see the upsides. This is the direction we’re going, we might aswell be somewhere near the front rather than being dragged along.
I’m saying we should try in the UK
I am not saying that alone will save the planet
And you are right about being market leaders
The point about the 2030 target is that it is based on scientific advice. It may or may not be possible but we need to try to reach it.
The same Guardian article mentioned that The Green Party and Labour were supporting the 2030 target (evidence based), Conservatives have plumped for 2050 (not having to do anything much now-based), and the Liberal Democrats had come up with 2045 (not-quite-as-shit-as-The-Conservatives-based, as with many of their policy positions)!
But putting narrow partisan issues aside, it is massive progress that these targets have reached the mainstream debate.
We’re getting there
If not fast enough
Polarised times require uncompromising responses, not to further drive a wedge but to articulate informed opposition and thus enable debate between the poles. I read this blog regularly but seldom contribute, but I thank Richard daily for his ability to do exactly that. Whether on the question of capitalism, the environment, the rise of the Right or Brexit, to recall a 60s phrase, you’re either on the bus or off it – contributions that express capitulation by essentially saying “what’s the point, no one else is doing it?” as above remind me so much of the Europe of 80-90 years ago against which my father fought and was imprisoned for. He didn’t speak much about it all except to say it had to be done. It did, and it does. Always. I don’t have the economic and political knowledge to argue details but I do know that one has to recognise darkness and have the courage to hold a candle against it
Thanks
Such garbage. And I don’t believe for one second 50% of the population back this lunacy
Ok
Why?
And how do you know?
And what is garbage?
On the basis of what evidence?
Try making a case
I stress, try….
Frank Fisher says:
“Such garbage. And I don’t believe for one second 50% of the population back this lunacy”
OK, don’t contribute then. Perhaps if belief is your forte you’d care to share your observations on transubstantiation.
Well done there Frank! Nice to see you side-stepped questions asked by myself and others above by resorting to “belief”.
But as you seem to fall on the other side of the debate, could you outline why you don’t think we should try to reduce emissions, particularly through infrastructure investment?
And as Richard asked, why do you think the polls mentioned above are garbage?
Or is it just that you don’t think climate change is an issue?
I don’t entirely expect you to respond to this, but I’d love to be proven wrong
I just wonder how many of these folk actually realise that what they want in this survey may mean them having to change something they have got used to? How many of them think it just the Government’s job or someone else has to make sacrifices – not them?
The question should be ‘How prepared are YOU to change your lifestyle to tackle the climate crisis’ in my view. A question a long those lines would certainly create a better mandate for change.
Having the “support” of the public is always a good first step – but that is all it is – it gives legitimacy to gov action.
Attended a Politico event in Bx this week. Talked to the top guy @ a Polish power company.
We both agreed that what was needed with respect to Euro-de-carb are 5 year and 10 year plans – that in many respects resemble the old Communist approach – albeit this time with the involvement, where appropriate, of companies supplling services and equipment.
The 5 year/10 years plans would in fact be an industrial strategy/implementation plan/targets/funding. This approach also implies making tech choices – that, hopefully, are for the most part no-regrets. be interesting to see how far down the track Labour concerning the above.
Hope the above does not sound too negative.