The World Wildlife Foundation found a major government discrepancy using its new ‘budget tagging tool’ which measures the impact of policy decisions on the environment.
A spring budget report has revealed that the UK government is spending more on activity that increases greenhouse gas emissions than the amount it has allocated for tackling climate change.
Dated March 2021, the statement showed that only £145 million of the government’s budget was assigned to climate protective action, such as investing in green technologies.
By stark contrast, £40 billion has been invested into sectors responsible for the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, meaning the amount of CO2 emitted by the nation could actually increase.
The news is especially damning, as it comes within the same week the IPCC reported that we have reached a breaking point for taking action and curbing climate change.
‘The spring budget showed a disconnect between the government’s rhetoric and the reality of what it’s doing,’ said WWF’s head of climate, Isabella O’Dowd. ‘The ambition [on emissions-cutting targets] is great, but now we really need to see the policies that will deliver.’
Not to mention, the world’s most important climate meeting COP26 is set to take place in two months’ time, hosted by the UK.
How can a nation which is choosing to ignore the most pressing issue of our time present itself as a leader in climate talks without being overshadowed by its own hypocrisy?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of ‘climate crisis complacency’ by Labour Party leader Kier Starmer, who has said that Johnson is ‘failing to treat the crisis with the seriousness it deserves.’
Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, has gone further to say that such complacency is ‘showing other countries that climate inaction is acceptable.’
These sentiments are echoed by virtually all other government parties and are reflective of the feelings of a large majority of people around the world.
Collective eco-anxiety is mounting, particularly for Gen-Z and Millennials, who have been burdened with the task of urging governments to enforce policies that will leave them with a safer future, long after those very political leaders are gone.
Forming an economic strategy for tackling environmental issues has allegedly been the cause of slow climate action, as well as rising tensions between Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and the Prime Minister.
But we know governments can obtain funding in dire situations (such as the pandemic) and we have also seen how they ‘followed the science’ to make decisions about lockdowns and vaccines.
The questions on everyone’s minds will surely be, why not just invest correctly? Why not rely on the science as you have over the last year? A look at the state of the Earth provides enough evidence that being conservative with green budgets is not an option.
Making economic apprehensiveness more frustrating is that finance experts have estimated an expansion of green technology sectors would see the UK’s economy benefit £90 billion over time.
The creation of new jobs, increased health benefits, and better infrastructure will actually leave governments better off once they make the decision to ‘go green.’
It’s time that national leaders stop hiding their hands as they finance oil companies and other environmentally damaging business ventures, while urging citizens to make minor sustainable choices in their own lives.
Apparently, many ministers are worried COP26 could be deemed a flop if the Prime Minister doesn’t reshape his agenda and take stronger responsibility in making it a success.
To set a convincing example for other nations, advisors are suggesting that the PM confronts some difficult decisions needed to achieve climate goals – and he should find himself with no shortage of suggestions for how to do so.
Friends of the Earth’s Connor Schwartz said, ‘if the government wants to show they respect the world’s leading scientists on climate chaos, they can start by cancelling the Cambo oilfield, scrapping the coalmine in Cumbria, and ending UK funding for the mega-gas project in Mozambique.’
From an environmentalist standpoint, the solutions seem obvious and quite frankly, the world is losing patience.
Still, as exasperating and (eco)anxiety-inducing as this all is, we have to remain hopeful that leaders at COP26 could surprise us all by constructing a solid – and immediate – plan for meeting climate targets.
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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