A cross-sector coalition in the UK is calling for a post-election pact on net zero carbon emissions, ahead of the world’s first televised climate debate.
Over 40 academics, policy specialists, trade bodies and businesses have signed an open letter calling for the leaders of UK political parties to agree to a post-election climate pact.
This comes ahead of the first ever televised climate and nature debate taking place on the night of 28 November and nationwide UK student strikes planned for 29 November.
The letter, which credits cross-party cooperation for the introduction of the “world leading” Net Zero 2050 legislation, is calling on political parties to adopt the same bipartisan approach when it comes to implementation post-election.
Signatories include Chris Hewitt, chief executive of the Solar Trade Association, Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, Louise Kingham, chief executive of the Energy Institute, Hugh McNeal, chief executive of Renewable UK, Darren Riva, chief executive of Capitas Finance, Nina Skorupska, chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association, Fintan Slye, director of UK system operator, National Grid ESO, and David Smith, chief executive of the Energy Networks Association.
The letter warns, “without a coordinated approach to mitigating climate change, the UK risks missing our all-important carbon targets”.
The first televised climate and nature election debate will see the leaders of the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party (SNP) take centre stage to promote their plans to decarbonise the UK with the Conservatives yet to confirm whether they will attend.
With nationwide student strikes planned, the signatories “hope that the political leaders will adopt the same principles of unity and cooperation that are at the heart of the protests”.
The open letter to party leaders stated: “If the past few years have taught us anything, it is that taking a divided approach to policy making is ineffective.
“It has led to stagnation and frustration within Parliament and across the UK. In this current political environment, we need to ensure that high priority issues such as achieving Net Zero and the wider climate change objectives do not fall into the trap of partisan ideology.”
The missive stated, “the principles of unity and cooperation are at the heart of the climate change movement”. It continued, “time is not on our side and therefore we need a joined-up, bipartisan approach to the Climate Emergency across political lines”.
“We the undersigned believe that urgent action is required to ensure that the UK meets our Net Zero targets and continues to lead the way on the international stage.
“For this to happen, the incoming Government must be ambitious, coordinated and accountable. From the outset, the Government and the opposition parties, whoever they may be, must work together to forge a path to Net Zero that is rooted in compromise and goes beyond party politics.”
The signatories are calling for all parties to “capture the spirit of cooperation” they’ve successfully demonstrated in this sphere previously, and agree to a post-election pact on climate change, agreeing to work “collaboratively, whether they are in Government or Opposition”, to implement legislation and policy that achieves Net Zero by the agreed timescales, in a fair and inclusive way.
The UK will be at the centre of the international stage next year as it hosts COP26.