Britain’s 2024 General Election: What Does It Mean for Energy and Climate Change?
This week’s article talks all things politics, energy and climate change. We offer a rundown of who’s in the running for political leadership, what the parties are offering to do about energy and environmental issues, and who is most likely to win.
As you are surely aware, the UK’s general election takes place tomorrow, on Thursday, 4th July 2024.
But what does the election really mean for energy and climate change? What solutions and plans do the different parties offer on these issues? And what can we expect will happen in the years to follow? In this week’s article we aim to unpack each of these questions, and offer some last minute insight to help inform your vote.
Is carbon-saving, energy and climate change a public priority in this election?
According to a survey conducted by Wildlife Trusts, the past 5 years have cultivated more environmental concern amongst voters than ever. The poll revealed that a majority of the public think that the main parties are “doing poorly” on “river pollution (78%), nature loss (71%), climate change (69%) and supporting sustainable food production (63%).”
While the revelation that well over half of Britons are dissatisfied with political, environmental action may seem alarming, it is perhaps not shocking. Energy, climate change and food security have each received extensive media coverage over the past few years.
Perhaps best summarised by an article in Red Flag Alert, rising energy costs after COVDI-19 became the “final straw” for many British businesses. There were in fact “22,109 insolvencies” in 2022 alone, which the article highlights is our highest number since the aftermath of a global economic recession in 2009.
What’s more, extreme heat and flooding have brought a newfound sense of urgency and awareness around climate change in recent years. After Catcliffe in Yorkshire was severely flooded in October 2023, locals criticised the government both for its inaction on climate change and the rising insurance costs incurred by the victims of climate-related disasters.
In fact, the complex relationship between climate change and other central political issues is fundamental to its significance in this election. While the Ipsos Issues Index highlights environment as only the eleventh most significant concern for voters, Chatham House points out that beneath the surface, “climate change is inextricably linked with the most pressing issues that UK votes identify.” For example, public health, the cost of living and economic growth all rely upon action to protect energy security and the environment. It is perhaps no surprise then that the United Nations has in turn called climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.”
Where do the parties stand on energy and climate change?
So it’s settled then: climate change, energy and environmental care are directly and indirectly important to the success of the next government and there is considerable public concern around it. So, what do the main parties propose to do about these issues?
The Conservative Party
Despite criticism on their management of the energy crisis and flooding, the Conservative Party’s 2024 election campaign claims energy security is a central priority.
The party has pledged to “treble existing offshore capacity” creating “50GW of offshore wind by 2030”, as well as cutting grid connection times. The Conservatives also promise to meet their goal for net zero by 2050, alongside opening “approving new small nuclear power stations”.
The Labour Party
The Conservatives main opposition, Labour, also offer ambitious plans for sustainability. In fact, Labour says it plans to “deliver the most ambitious investment in clean homegrown energy in British history” and make Britain “a world leader in tackling the climate crisis”.
Perhaps most notably, Labour have proposed the founding of a new publicly owned clean energy company called Great British Energy. This initiative would support low carbon projects, while Labour also aims to deliver one hundred percent clean power by 2030; “make the UK energy independent”, save £93 billion for UK households and “cut energy bills for good.”
The Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have perhaps even bigger ambitions for carbon-saving, aiming to beat the Conservatives’ forecast by delivering net zero by 2045. They aim to do this by deploying solar and wind power so that “90% of power would be generated by renewables by 2030.”
The liberal democrats also plan to make pensions green by requiring funds to comply with the climate goals in the Paris agreement, as well as improving standards for new homes.
The Greenpeace Ranking
According to Greenpeace, the Liberal Democrats come out ahead of Labour and the Conservatives for Green credentials, yet all three are significantly outshined by The Green Party. This overall ranking judges party manifestos against greenpeace’s own list of the 40 most urgent government actions required to tackle environmental issues. The charity scored The Green Party 39 out of a possible 40 points; the Liberal Democrats 31.5 out of 40; Labour 20.5 out of 40 and the Conservatives 5 out of 40.
What is likely to happen next?
If the policies above are a fair indication of what we can expect from each party’s leadership, the question remains: who can we expect to win the election?
The Labour Party are predicted to gain a majority of seats according to Yougov and Ipsos predictions. Yougov suggests the Labour Party will secure between 422 and 456 seats, which would be one of the “largest majorities in British political history”, while the Conservatives are expected to gain just 72 to 140 seats in a vast decline from their current standing. Ipsos offers similarly optimistic figures for the Labour Party, suggesting they will gain 453 seats, against just 115 for the Conservatives and 38 for the Liberal Democrats.
Despite the prospect of returning to power after 14 years as the Conservative government’s opposition, the Labour Party has advised caution against supporters believing the party “has it in the bag”. Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader, has warned that the polls should not “prompt voter apathy and a lower turnout of supporters [at the vote]”.
Whether or not you intend to support the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party or any other party, remember that your vote is valuable and offers the chance to influence change on the issues about which you are most passionate.
If your business is concerned about energy and/or the environment, GridDuck can help. Book a 15-minute call today to find out how our system could save you money and carbon emissions.