UK chief climate adviser says criticism of net-zero target is ‘defeatist’ | climate crisis

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The UK’s top climate adviser has defended forcefully against “defeatist” criticism that the country’s net zero target is costly, urging the Treasury to pursue the current “incremental” pace of decarbonization.

Chris Stark, chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), urged the debate on net zero to be framed in a more positive light: “It can be done,” he said. “It’s worth it…I hope we can get away from thinking about the cost and see it as a task to modernize the economy.”

Two years ago, the UK led the world in adopting a net-zero 2050 target, which is essential if humanity has any chance of maintaining global heating at the relatively safe level of 1.5°C to 2°C. Last December, the CCC outlined five ways to reach that goal, which Cabinet will soon have to outline before the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow in the fall.

But in recent weeks, there has been a flurry of criticism from right-wing commentators that the costs are too high, highlighting which side of the debate the Treasury will return to.

Stark said it was necessary for the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to agree to the government’s net-zero plan because his spending review would shape its prospects.

“There are some big decisions that need to be made there,” he said of the ministerial talks. We can’t keep moving forward with all of this. The increased pace that we have seen in some policies over the past 12 months will not eliminate it. This is an important moment. That moment is coming before Cop26. There will be a lot of focus on what this strategy contains.”

Chris Stark said recent criticism of the CCC was “unpleasant” but urged the UK to take a leadership role in achieving the net-zero target. Photography: Gary Duke/Almy Stock Photo

He admitted that some of the recent criticism of CCC had been “unpleasant” but welcomed the discussion on how to go to net zero. “I hope there will be a fight around the cabinet table because they have to own it.”

But he called for a change in the narrative to a more upbeat message that reflects success so far in lowering the cost of wind and solar energy prices, phasing out coal and decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions. “This is a positive story,” he said. “I would like to see the chancellor shout this from the rooftops.” “Why is framing this often so defeatist? I think we should try to change the record on this. The scale is that this transition is what’s so exciting about it. We haven’t blinked in the past when we’ve done these national transitions, like from coal to city gas, And from city gas to North Sea gas. We made it a national priority and were proud to see it through.”

However, he said, the government has some tough choices. Regardless of which path the Cabinet chose, Stark said state intervention would be necessary to ensure costs and benefits are evenly distributed across regions and corporate sectors. He said policies would also be needed to encourage modest lifestyle changes, including reducing meat consumption and switching to electric cars.

“This is a difficult moment for those who like less state interference,” he said. “That’s the controversial part. For those on the right, this can seem like a bit of a y-case, a bit of command and control.”

But he said the market will play a vital role and that the private sector needs clear policy signals to support investment decisions that will decarbonize and raise the level of transportation, heating, energy and construction in the country. He estimated that this would require an eighth more capital outlay in the UK than is currently the case. From 2030 onwards, this will require around £50 billion a year in additional spending, mostly by the private sector. Low interest rates and high efficiency benefits would bring this ratio to less than 1% of GDP.

Stark said the economic and geopolitical benefits of taking on a leadership position would outweigh the costs. He cited industry upgrades, health gains, increased skill levels in the workforce, upgrading of society and an improvement in the natural world, along with greater energy independence and reduced dependence on fossil fuels from “potentially very poor” import sites. He said the UK also had a responsibility as a major source of historical emissions and as a signatory to the Paris Agreement.

Time was of the essence because purchases of fossil fuels, such as cars or power plants, tend to span 15 to 20 years, he said, adding that policies are now needed to encourage investment to shift over the next decade and then scale up. Even after 2030.

Using the example of renewable energy and electric cars, he said, “It can be done. I think it’s important to say that.”

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