Emily Davies
A group of Conservative MPs are revolting against the UK’s goal of net-zero by 2050, attacking the energy minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan in a leaked WhatsApp group conversation.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent report has temporarily dominated headlines – accompanied by stories on wildfires raging across Greece, deadly floods in Turkey and ‘here’s what YOU can do to save the planet’ lists. Politicians and scientists tweet and comment on how critical it is to act quickly and decisively to prevent this crisis.
Most people I know are already reducing their meat consumption and are painstakingly aware of anything plastic. The biggest burden of reducing our country’s emissions lies with our government. But MPs say fulfilling their promises costs too much money, promises they made with full knowledge of the costs. The WhatsApp conversation leaked in the Sun shows various Tory MPs on a rampage, including Mark Jenkinson, who has been under fire for the notorious Cumbria Mine. In the group chat, Jenkinson says: “We are ultra-parochial on net-zero, and we’re simply not the problem.”
Is anyone else laughing, or is it just me?
How did the UK get to be a developed country? Along with other advanced economies, we polluted the atmosphere with greenhouse gases with little thought for the consequences. Our country, among others, has a responsibility to do as much as we realistically can to reduce emissions. Turning away from coal and relying on greener means to sustain our lifestyle is a moral obligation. It will also be a great help in persuading developing countries to do the same.
The Sun quoted an MP saying: “You cannot make steel without burning coal – fact.” Sorry to break the news, but this isn’t true. There are alternatives; there just aren’t many low-cost alternatives to coking coal yet.
“Coal is used in steelmaking because it’s cheap.”
According to the Coal Action Network, steel can theoretically be recycled indefinitely, and this requires energy, but much less than to produce new steel. At present, the current global rate of steel recycling is only 30%, and it should be possible to push this to 80%. Companies are developing new technologies and coal-free methods worldwide. Major UK steelmakers Celsa Steel and Liberty Steel produce steel using electric arc furnaces and scrap metal. Coal is used in steelmaking because it’s cheap. However, the gap between the price of coal and using more sustainable means is closing fast.
The Cost Is Too High
The Tory MPs claim that it’s too expensive to cut emissions and reach the current targets, but costs of renewable energy can plummet given enough political will. Experts expect the price of electric cars to fall below the price of petrol cars in just four years. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, two-thirds of wind and solar farms built last year will produce electricity cheaper than coal plants. We can expect the costs of other green technologies to fall in the same way.
Doing nothing, as the MPs seem to want, is more expensive. As the Guardian’s environment editor puts it, taking action is a “bargain”.
The Office for Budget Responsibility set the price of reducing emissions in 30 years as less than the pandemic has cost in two. On the other hand, think about the costs of flood defences and repairs to infrastructure as climate change hits the UK heavier. Each year, a new record. And that’s just thinking about our country. Instead, investing in green technologies creates new jobs as demand increases.
It’s About Politics
Sadly, the environment has become an increasingly political issue, with Johnson being a recent green convert to attract younger voters.
“What we’re doing is taking one shaking, tentative step on a half-built staircase while we claim to be running up seven flights.”
Johnson is issuing statements like the IPCC report is a “wake-up call” and “sobering reading” – keen on being viewed as concerned about climate change. I’m hardly convinced. The Cambo oil field, the notorious Cumbria Mine, the failure of a Green Homes Grant and the wavering gas boiler ban as the most recent and prominent examples of vague promises falling through.
No coal! World leader! Rip out gas boilers! he says. Soon after, protests about a new coal mine. The poorly planned, half-hearted Green Homes Grant was scrapped after six months. Headlines of Johnson being on the brink of backtracking on the gas boilers. In November, COP26 is being hosted by this country – by Johnson. Hardly a good example. Yet in the WhatsApp group, there are claims we’re doing all the legwork? What we’re doing is taking one shaking, tentative step on a half-built staircase while we claim to be running up seven flights.
Johnson faces pressure from these MPs on one side and the public on the other. He is making wavering promises to the public while bending to MPs focused on the short term. If he says reducing emissions is too expensive, will he stop spending ridiculous amounts of money on redecorating his flat? I doubt it.
Featured image courtesy of Moritz Kindler on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
