Thank you to those constituents who have contacted me about climate and nature leadership.
The Labour Government is taking a lead on tackling the climate and nature crisis. Since coming to office, we have restored the UK’s position as a global leader when it comes to climate action, delivering on our domestic commitments through our mission for clean power, and working with our international partners on tackling this global challenge.
Making Britain a clean energy superpower is one of the five missions of this Government, ie delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero across the economy. This is highly ambitious and would put the UK ahead of all other major economies.
Labour is also committed to turning the tide on nature’s decline after years of neglect. Our countryside is emptier of wildlife than any time in recent history. Labour believes nature plays a key role in delivering the growth our country needs as well as our public health and wellbeing.
I have set up below the steps that we have taken in our first year in office.
Climate achievements
- Consented solar and offshore wind to power 2 million homes.
- Lifted the 9-year onshore wind ban within 72 hours of coming to office.
- Started a solar rooftop programme, with solar as standard on new build homes.
- Delivered the most successful renewables auction in history.
- Set a world-leading target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035.
- Reaffirmed our commitment not to issue new oil and gas licenses.
- Phased out coal as a power source.
- Confirmed we will ban fracking.
- Set up Great British Energy in Aberdeen to drive forward clean power.
- Set up the National Wealth Fund, unlocking investment in clean energy and supply chains.
- Published our world-leading plan to reach clean power by 2030.
- Established a Global Clean Power Alliance.
- Appointed world-renowned climate and nature envoys Rachel Kyte and Ruth Davis.
- Showed global leadership in helping to secure a deal at COP29.
- Committed to lifting 1 million renters out of fuel poverty through upgrading energy efficiency standards.
- Expanding the Warm Homes Discount to give 6m families £150 off energy bills next winter and strengthened the energy regulator to ensure it properly stands up for consumers.
Nature Achievements
- Delivering the Water Bill to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas, as well as banning the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bringing criminal charges against lawbreakers.
- Ringfencing funding for vital water infrastructure so that it can only be spent on upgrades benefiting the environment not diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.
- Begun reintroducing beavers into the wild, as part of a long-term management plan for beavers in England that works for people and nature.
- Investing £5 billion in funding over two years, the largest investment in sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in this country’s history.
- Banned the use of bee-killing pesticides and published the first Pesticides National Action Plan in a decade to protect our vital pollinators.
- Increased access to nature for families to enjoy, with the creation of nine new National Rivers Walks and planting three National Forests.
- Setting up a Nature Restoration Fund enabling house builders and infrastructure providers to meet their environmental obligations faster and at greater scale delivering better outcomes for nature.
- Boosted Britain’s international leadership on nature, appointing a special envoy for nature for the first time in history
- Banned bottom trawling across more Marine Protected Areas.
- Introduced tough new measures to protect marine life and wildlife and will ratify the Global Oceans Treaty by the end of the year.
- Made recycling easier and banning single use vapes, which will reduce waste to landfill and clean up communities.
- Tree planting rates are at the highest level in 20 years after the Government set up a new Tree Planting Taskforce.
- Committed to repealing the 2031 cut-off date for recording historic rights of way, thereby protecting thousands of miles of unrecorded rights of way which are well used by walkers, cyclists and equestrians.
- Launched world-leading nature finance standards to encourage green investment, preventing greenwashing and helping businesses invest in restoring nature.
There is, of course, much still to do but I hope you will agree that we have made a reasonable start.
Best wishes
Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland