UKPOL.CO.UK

Category: Environment

  • Boris Johnson – 2020 Comments on Climate Action

    Boris Johnson – 2020 Comments on Climate Action

    The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 24 September 2020.

    As the world continues to deal with coronavirus we must look ahead to how we will rebuild, and how we can seize the opportunity to build back better.

    The UK will lead by example, keeping the environment on the global agenda and serving as a launch pad for a global green industrial revolution. But no one country can turn the tide – it would be akin to bailing out a liner with a single bucket.

    We cannot let climate action become another victim of coronavirus. Let us be the leaders who secure the very health of the planet for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.

  • Alan Whitehead – 2020 Comments on Wylfa Project Cancellation

    Alan Whitehead – 2020 Comments on Wylfa Project Cancellation

    The comments made by Alan Whitehead, the Shadow Minister for Energy, on 16 September 2020.

    The cancellation of what would have been the largest energy project in Wales, if it cannot be reversed, could have huge consequences including the loss of between £15bn and £20bn in investment. It will also prevent the creation of thousands of jobs in the energy sector and wider UK supply chain.

    We are already in the middle of an economic and unemployment crisis, yet the government has been completely silent on the potential loss of this power station and the economic impact for Anglesey and the region.

    Ministers must urgently outline whether they plan to seek new developers to take on the Wylfa project, what conversations they have had with Hitachi about the site, and how they will ensure the people of Wales do not pay the price for Hitachi’s withdrawal.

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2020 Comments on Net Zero Emissions

    Matthew Pennycook – 2020 Comments on Net Zero Emissions

    The comments made by Matthew Pennycook, the Shadow Climate Change Minister, on 7 September 2020. The comments were made with reference to an Institute for Government report on the Government’s approach to achieving net zero emissions.

    This report lays bare the Government’s failure to put the country on a path to net zero emissions.

    If Ministers were determined to end the UK’s contribution to global heating by mid-century they would have a clear roadmap to achieve that goal, it would be pursued relentlessly from the centre, the institutional architecture would be put in place to coordinate and drive progress across all departments, and emissions reduction would be woven throughout government policy.

    Until this Government gives emissions reduction the status it requires and acts accordingly, the UK is destined to remain off track for the net zero target, legislated for just over a year ago.

  • Alok Sharma – 2020 Comments on Green Home Grants

    Alok Sharma – 2020 Comments on Green Home Grants

    The comments made by Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business and Energy, on 28 August 2020.

    Green Homes Grants are a key part of our plans to build back greener, helping make 600,000 homes more energy efficient with government vouchers, while supporting 100,000 skilled jobs and supporting our transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

    From today people will have the chance to see how this scheme could help save money on their energy bills and connect to trusted local tradespeople across the country, so they are ready for the scheme’s launch in September.

  • George Eustice – 2020 Comments on the Environment Bill

    George Eustice – 2020 Comments on the Environment Bill

    The comments made by George Eustice, the Secretary of State for Environment, on 19 August 2020.

    The targets we set under our landmark Environment Bill will be the driving force behind our bold action to protect and enhance our natural world – guaranteeing real and lasting progress on some of the biggest environmental issues facing us today.

    I hope these targets will provide some much-needed certainty to businesses and society, as we work together to build back better and greener.

  • Ed Miliband – 2020 Comments on the UK’s Energy Statistics

    Ed Miliband – 2020 Comments on the UK’s Energy Statistics

    Comments made by Ed Miliband, the Shadow Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary, on 30 July 2020.

    The figures are moving in the right direction, but not yet at the pace befitting the scale of the climate crisis facing us all.

    As COP26 hosts, the UK should be blazing the trail in the global fight against climate change with a Green New Deal. Yet we are falling behind our European neighbours, whose investment in a green recovery has dwarfed this government’s.

    With billions of taxpayer pounds being channelled by ministers into fossil fuels abroad and the UK still off track for meeting our targets, the Government’s actions are clearly still too piecemeal and inconsistent.

  • Energy Saving Trust – 2020 Statement of Apology on their Management of the Bike Voucher Scheme

    Energy Saving Trust – 2020 Statement of Apology on their Management of the Bike Voucher Scheme

    The statement made by the Energy Saving Trust on 29 July 2020 after problems with their management of the Bike Voucher Scheme.

    Energy Saving Trust would like to apologise for the frustration and inconvenience at the Fix Your Bike Voucher Scheme website being taken offline. This was due to unprecedented high demand at launch, the site was inundated with users attempting to gain access at the same time. The website was designed for high volumes of traffic, however, at the time of the scheme launching, demand in fact far exceeded even our highest expectations.

    Our team continue to work hard to resolve these issues and have the Fix Your Bike Voucher Scheme available as soon as possible. We will post any updates on the website and on our social media channels.

  • Luke Pollard – 2020 Comments on National Food Strategy Report

    Luke Pollard – 2020 Comments on National Food Strategy Report

    Comments made by Luke Pollard, the Shadow Environment Secretary, on 29 July 2020.

    This report reinforces the urgent need for action on the two biggest food challenges facing Britain: the growing scandal of food poverty and the need to prevent British farmers being undercut in new trade deals.

    Far too many children are growing up in difficult circumstances and do not receive free school meals while their families struggle to make ends meet. The Government should be working to ensure every family can afford for their children to get a healthy hot meal every day.

    Having heard the message from Labour, the public and farmers that we do not want lower food standards, perhaps hearing it from its own advisor will force the Government to secure Britain’s high food and farming standards in law.

  • George Eustice – 2020 Comments on Environmental Land Management Scheme

    George Eustice – 2020 Comments on Environmental Land Management Scheme

    The comments made by George Eustice, the Secretary of State for the Environment, on 27 July 2020.

    The so-called greening requirements have added little to our environmental efforts. We believe that farmers will benefit from this reduced bureaucratic burden next year as we begin the move towards our new Environmental Land Management scheme which will deliver greater benefits for the environment.

    We will be setting out more detail in the autumn on how we will ensure a smooth transition for our farmers, as they move towards our new, fairer agricultural system, which will reward them for the hard work that they do to protect our environment.

  • Alok Sharma – 2020 Comments on Green Investment in Aerospace

    Alok Sharma – 2020 Comments on Green Investment in Aerospace

    The comments made by Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 20 July 2020.

    We have an incredible aerospace industry right here in the UK that defines the way aircraft are manufactured globally.

    This £400 million ATI investment will help secure our world-leading position in developing new flight technology to make air travel safer and greener into the future.