Green Alliance investigates 2020 green policies

Green Alliance have drawn up a net zero policy tracker to summarise progress made by the Government in 2020.

The think tank have looked at progress in decarbonisation in the following key areas:

• transport;
• power;
• industry;
• buildings;
• agriculture, land use and forestry.

Transport has a share of 35% of UK emissions, and Green Alliance have highlighted that the Government have taken the ambitious step of bringing forward ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2030, with a 2035 end date for sales of new plug-in hybrid vehicles. There has also been more support for low carbon travel. However £14 billion has been invested in new roads which is known to increase demand for car travel.

Major announcements in 2020 include:

• £2 billion pledged on walking and cycling infrastructure in the next five years;
• moving the phase-out date for sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to 2030 and for sales of new hybrid vehicles to 2035.

Power has a 12% share of UK emissions, with more support and investment given to renewable in 2020.

Major announcements in 2020 include:

• doubling support for renewables in the next CfD auction;
• raising offshore wind targets to 40GW by 2030;
• funding for UK nuclear innovation.

Industry has 21% share of UK emissions, which Green Alliance believe has lots of potential with significant sums of money for decarbonisation, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and alternative low carbon energy sources. However a lot of these technologies are not yet fully tested so a lot depends on the progress made.

Buildings makes up 18% of UK emissions, with the Government pledging funding for energy efficiency and low carbon heat in homes and non-domestic buildings. Minimum energy efficiency standards on rental properties are also in place, bu there is still "an absence of a long term, fully funded strategy for upgrading the energy efficiency of housing".

Agriculture, land use and forestry have 7% share of UK emissions, with some announcements which make great progress for tree planting and job creation in the natural environment. There are also new plans for sustainable farming, but like many of the other areas there have been no detailed policies.

Green Alliance have said:

"Our calculations show there is still a significant gap between the UK's stated plans and the actual trajectory needed to meet the legal net zero carbon objective for 2050. Indeed, there is an immediate spending shortfall in meeting the UK's climate and nature goals to the end of this parliament in 2024."