I became UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary in February 2012 – that makes me the longest serving Minister with this portfolio for 25 years. In this time, I have learnt one lesson above all else: you can only make real progress on climate change with political leadership and trust between all parties. That’s why the new joint climate change agreement between the leaders of the three major British political parties – Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats - is so important.
This cross-party agreement shows the strength of the UK’s commitment to tackling climate change. The British public, businesses and our European and international partners can now be in no doubt - May's election in the UK poses little threat to the UK continuing to be a leading voice on climate change and the transition to a prosperous low carbon economy.
I would like to pay particular tribute to the UK NGO community who have made this agreement possible. I fully support their ’For the Love of’ campaign both as a politician, a Minister and as a father - I do not want my kids growing up in a more dangerous and insecure world because my generation failed to act. Our NGOs are a formidable UK asset, boosting our reach internationally, strengthening our resolve politically and enhancing our capacity to deliver domestically.
And it has been quite a period of delivery: in Europe, securing the Europe-wide deal to reduce domestic emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and Emissions Trading System (ETS) reform; internationally, providing nearly £4bn of climate finance to help developing countries and ending export financing for coal power plants with the US; and in the UK, more than doubling renewable electricity generation and investment, defending the UK’s 4th Carbon Budget to halve emissions by 2027 and making the UK the world’s leading offshore wind market.
But while real progress has been made, there is a huge amount still to do. First, we must press forward in implementing the EU commitment to reduce domestic emissions by at least 40%, deliver further robust ETS reform, bring forward the EU’s formal climate pledge for Paris and prepare the options for how we might increase EU ambition in the context of a comprehensive global climate deal.
Second, we must use all the tools at our disposal to deliver the global climate agreement the world needs in Paris 2015. Political momentum is building with the US, China and India announcing their intention to seek an ambitious deal, and with the launch of a €10bn Green Climate Fund to help the poorest nations adapt to climate change. We must build on this momentum, reaching out at every level and through all our channels, to show the leadership, develop the trust and create the conditions to make Paris a real success.
Finally, this year, we must really get to grips with some of the biggest practical challenges to meeting our 2 degrees goal. Above all, this means addressing unabated coal power. The agreement between British political leaders to end unabated coal power in the UK is a positive step. But we now need to take an open, honest and pragmatic look at how, in Europe and beyond, we can address unabated coal globally if we are to meet our climate goals.
4 comments
Comment by Andrew Morphet posted on
This is all very well Mr Davey but there remains a clear disconnect within the Government where your Department and CLG are not on the same page.
The latest example is the proposed scrapping of DECs for public buildings - crazy when you see the clear evidence that DECs have noticeably helped to reduce energy consumption in public buildings.
Whilst I appreciate this is currently out to "consultation" the very fact that someone thinks this might be a good idea is worrying.
When will we see all Departments "singing from the same hymn sheet"?
Comment by PCAH (Parents Concerned About Hinkley posted on
Yes, we need to develop a EU policy on managing climate change. Just as important is to understand that current DECC policy to develop new nuclear power starting with the Hinkley C project is ill informed, dangerous and very expensive. It will not help to get rid of coal and agree climate change measures if at the same time you obstruct the development of real, carbon free renewable electricity generation by subsidising nuclear and failing to recognise its inherent danger from discharges of lethal gas and liquid radionuclides.
Comment by Gillian-Community Windpower posted on
Completely agree with the above comment- No real action is possible without everyone's backing which is why an EU policy on dealing with climate issues is essential but again reiterating the above point, taking the step to reduce carbon emissions and improve our environmental footprint isn't possible without supporting renewable energies and the development of safe and reliable alternatives
Comment by M Dodd posted on
Navitus Bay Wind Park - A letter from the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to the Government, in which the UN agency said that the giant, wind farm would change the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site (WHS) “from being located in a natural setting that is largely free from man-made structures to one where its setting is dominated by man-made structures.”
Navitus Bay Wind Park development proposes to install up to 218 offshore wind turbines off in a stretch of sea from Purbeck to the Isle of Wight.
“This is an UNESCO World Heritage Site the equivalent of putting a wind farm on the Great Barrier Reef.
“Imagine the outcry if they attempted that.”
In France UNESCO prevented EDF from building two turbines near the Mont St Michel by creating an exclusion zone.