CLIMATE ACTION REPORT CARD
We’ve given the Government a report card for climate action - but it’s not one they’ll be running home to show the parents.
They have big ambitions, but won’t be high achievers unless they put in the work and funding to make them a reality. Their overall grade? C
This report card assesses the UK government’s track record of “leading on the world stage” - as President of the COP26 UN climate summit – and of “leading by example” at home. It considered policies and progress on things like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting nature and supporting people affected by climate change.
Our report says the Government:
Only scored a ‘C’ for its strategy to achieve ‘net zero’ emissions, which was described as “underfunded”, but scored a respectable ‘B’ for its efforts to cajole other nations into setting more ambitious climate goals in the next year;
Made the protection of nature a “prominent” part of COP26 which contributed to its inclusion in more of the climate plans of governments around the world, but made “little progress” on its own target of protecting 30% of British land and seas;
Secured an “important” target to double adaptation finance by 2025, but scored an abysmal ‘E’ for allowing wealthy countries to sabotage a proposed fund for Loss & Damage;
Made progress on green apprenticeships, requiring larger companies to report their net zero plans and targets for low-carbon power and vehicles, but failed to join more progressive governments in pledging to phase out fossil fuel production in the UK
““A ‘C’ is still a pass, but this isn’t a report card that the Government should feel proud of. It has big ambitions for its domestic climate agenda but is not putting in the hard work or the funding needed to make them a reality. Its performance at COP26 was a mixed bag, so it is now vital that the Government uses the rest of its Presidency to build on what has already been achieved.”
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