The UK government's main climate change adviser insists Britons will have to fly less, eat less meat and use public transport more often to meet net zero targets. [emphasis, links added]
The regulations put forward to MPs today directly contradict Mr. Keir Starmer Earlier this month it was revealed that reducing greenhouse gas emissions does not mean Britons have to change the way they live.
The new target means that UK emissions should be reduced to 81% of 1990 levels by 2035.
Speech at the COP29 Summit Azerbaijan two weeks ago, The Prime Minister said he would not “tell people how to live” by cutting back on air travel or changing their diets.
But today the leading members climate change The Commission (CCC) made it clear that achieving the goals would involve extensive “behavioral change”.
When asked by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee “to what extent individual behavior needs to change”, CCC director of analysis James Richardson said:
“Based on the analysis we've done, about 10% of the reductions by 2035 will come from what we think of as behavioral changes. This is mainly related to diet, flying and modal shifts [to] public transportation.
Mr Richardson detailed the “key behavioral changes people would notice” if the UK followed the CCC's recommendations:
“It's not about telling people they have to stop flying, but we think the growth rate in flights is going to happen if we don't do anything… When we talk to citizens, people seem to be willing to accept that there has to be some level of restrictions.” constraint. '
Regarding the change in diet, Mr Richardson said:
“We think half of the changes you need to achieve by 2035 are a continuation of existing trends in people changing their diets.”
He acknowledged that people may have changed their eating habits in recent years, such as eating less meat, due to the rising cost of living.
Mr Richardson was asked why the installation rate of energy-efficient heat pumps fell far short of the government's target of 600,000 units installed per year by 2028.
He said installing water pumps would hit consumers in the pocket because they cost more to operate than gas boilersadding, “Right now, if you do the right thing, you’re going to lose money because of it.”
Piers Forster, Interim President of the CCC Electricity is too expensive in the UK compared to gas, partly to subsidize wind and solar.
He said:
“Our first recommendation is to reduce the cost of electricity. If the cost of electricity is reduced, it becomes more attractive to buy electric vehicles, install air source heat pumps instead of gas boilers and for our industry to make the necessary investments in electrification.
Professor Foster said there was a need for “long-term consistent policies that need to be well communicated by both industry and government.”
He added:
“You have to keep the message consistent that your electric car won't be as expensive for you in the long term as your current petrol or diesel car.”
Mr Richardson said he supported the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) directive, which would impose stiff fines if carmakers fail to meet sales targets for electric vehicles.
Car giant Stellantis has blamed the policy for its decision to close its Vauxhall van manufacturing plant in Luton after 120 years.
Popular photo on Unsplash by Markus Spiske
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