top of page

Returning to glory: UK’s new energy development path

Crystal Battery Storage
Crystal Battery Storage

On July 4, 2024, the British Labour Party led by Keir Starmer penetrated the long political night and returned to glory after 14 years, spreading the glory of the red rose to 10 Downing Street again.

From Churchill's perseverance, to Mrs. Thatcher's iron-fisted governance, to Blair's moderate reforms, every prime minister has left his own unique mark here.

When the serious and steady new prime minister stepped into this historic door, the 61-year-old Starmer faced not only the glory and responsibility of this country once known as the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets", but also the expectations and doubts from the people.

Among them, a major economic and development issue facing him is "climate and environmental protection".

The victory of the Labour Party is partly due to the resonance between its clear green revolution program and the British people's desire for climate action.

In the 2024 general election, the Labour Party put clean electricity, green jobs, and residential energy efficiency in the spotlight, interweaving them with topics of public concern such as inflation, illegal immigration, health care, and education, weaving a gorgeous blueprint.

Official data released by the UK Electoral Commission showed that the Labour Party won 62% of the support rate in the 18-24 age group, which strongly resonated with the British people, especially young people, for climate action.


As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Britain was once the engine of global greenhouse gas emissions, but in the torrent of the times, the English rose learned to reflect and transform, and has been committed to becoming a global climate policy leader in recent decades.

Bloomberg once commented: Britain has outperformed most wealthy countries on the road to carbon reduction.

However, some decisions of the Sunak government, such as downplaying climate commitments and approving new oil and gas licenses, have made Britain waver in its leadership in nature and climate policy, and the green power of the past is no longer visible.

Two weeks before the general election, more than 350 environmental organizations held a "Restore Nature Now" march in London, strongly urging the government to pay attention to the protection of biodiversity.

This appeal was also reflected in the campaign speech of Labour leader Starmer, whose speech was interrupted many times by environmental activists, showing the public's high attention to environmental issues.

According to the Guardian, Avery, co-founder of the Wilderness Justice organization, criticized that the Labour Party's policies have clear plans in energy and climate change, but are insufficient in natural ecology, wildlife protection and rural areas, and even lack specific considerations for agriculture.


Can Starmer's cabinet lead Britain back to environmental and climate glory?


The green story of Britain is a long scroll, not a fragment. Let us first turn the pages of history and feel those important moments.

In 1990, the world's first green building standard BREEAM was released in the UK, marking the UK's pioneering position in the field of green buildings and leading the development of global green building standards.

In 2008, the Gordon Brown government passed the Climate Change Act, which established the UK's ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 compared with 1990. The UK became the first major economy in the world to legislate clear emission reduction targets.

In 2013, during the Cameron government's term, the UK's renewable energy generation surpassed coal for the first time, marking a major turning point in the energy structure.

In 2019, Theresa May's government passed legislation to adjust the UK's greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to net zero emissions by 2050, making the UK the first major economy in the world to make such a commitment.

In 2020, the Johnson government announced that the 2050 net zero emissions target would be brought forward to 2035, and formulated a series of policies to promote the green economy, including a ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2030, and a grand plan to promote the development of offshore wind power.

In 2023, the short-term Sunak government was also a force to promote the green economy, continuing many of its predecessor's measures.

According to official data from the "2023 Energy White Paper" released by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), by the end of 2023, the UK's offshore wind power installed capacity had reached 25GW, laying a solid foundation for achieving the 2030 target.

However, Sunak postponed the ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, which was widely criticized at home and abroad. The decision violated the UK's previous commitment to combat climate change and was seen as a setback to environmental protection efforts in the international community and the UK.

Former Prime Minister Johnson and other Conservative Party members criticized that this policy change may bring uncertainty to the economy, especially negative impact on the automotive and energy industries, and may also increase the economic burden on British families.


The Starmer government's political stance from the perspective of the people and its advocacy of "Reforming Britain" have won widespread public support.

He emphasized that the change has begun, and the government should focus on "delivery" and "service", highlight collaboration, and strive to unite the counties of England and do politics in a different way.

Starmer pointed out that "Self interest was yesterday's politics" and today's politics needs to be more forward-looking and inclusive.


Whether Starmer can lead Britain back to climate glory is a thought-provoking question. I summarized Starmer's "three axes", which may be the key to the answer.


First axe: Starmer's climate vision and cabinet layout.

Starmer promised to achieve zero-carbon electricity by 2030, five years ahead of the Conservative Party's goal.

He plans to increase onshore wind and solar power generation to three times the current level and offshore wind power to four times, completely saying goodbye to the era of fossil fuels.

Starmer's emphasis on climate issues is also reflected in the appointment of his cabinet members.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, with his deep background in climate diplomacy, will lead the UK's energy policy and accelerate the green transformation.

He played a key role in the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference, promoting the formation of the Copenhagen Accord and making important contributions to global climate governance.

Environment Secretary George Eustice will focus on green innovation in agriculture, fisheries and nature conservation, and is committed to maintaining the health and biodiversity of ecosystems.

Starmer himself, as a former human rights lawyer and chief prosecutor of England and Wales, has rich experience in legal and judicial management, which has laid a solid foundation for the implementation of the green agenda.

During his career as a human rights lawyer, he handled a large number of cases related to civil rights and social justice, winning wide acclaim; and his experience as chief prosecutor has enabled him to promote the legislation and implementation of green policies.


Second axe: sustainable financial transformation.

In order to fill the huge funding gap required for green transformation, the Labour government intends to use regulatory means to force financial institutions and large companies to disclose low-carbon transformation plans to ensure that they are consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

At the same time, the role of the Bank of England will be expanded to include climate change factors in its core business considerations, reflecting the trend of deep integration of the financial system and sustainable development goals.

In addition, the Labour Party's strategy plans to add two new entities, the Great British Energy Company and the National Wealth Fund, which will become catalysts for promoting private sector clean energy investment.

The former will focus on financial support for clean energy technologies and projects, while the latter will target strategic industries and clean energy fields, aiming to leverage private capital through public funds and jointly promote the growth of the green economy.

Although this move may encounter resistance from the opposition and the fossil energy industry, especially the Labour Party's firm opposition to the issuance of new oil and gas exploration licenses, it will undoubtedly create considerable employment opportunities in the clean energy field.


Thrid axe: Warm Home Plan: The cornerstone of the green economy.

The Starmer government's "Warm Home Plan" is a grand project aimed at improving the energy efficiency of low-income housing.

It is estimated that the implementation of this plan will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 10 million tons in the next decade, while creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs. Through subsidies and loans, the government will encourage homeowners to carry out energy-saving renovations, such as replacing high-efficiency windows and installing insulation materials, thereby reducing energy consumption and reducing the economic burden on families.


Starmer's new government has set ambitious climate policy goals. However, the road to a green future is not smooth.

The new government will face a domestic cost of living crisis, foreign geopolitical turmoil, and a series of extreme weather events exacerbated by increased fossil fuel emissions.


There are three things to pay attention to when the new prime minister's cabinet takes office:


1. Exit strategy for fossil fuels:

Starmer's campaign platform promises to achieve zero-carbon electricity by 2030.

At present, the UK has basically gotten rid of its dependence on coal, and the last coal-fired power plant is scheduled to close in September, but natural gas still accounts for more than 30% of electricity supply. How to achieve full replacement of natural gas in just six years, or develop widespread application of carbon capture technology, has become the primary problem.

Jos Garman, executive director of the European Climate Foundation, said that the zero-carbon electricity commitment is a "stretch goal" that requires changes in the approval law for wind and solar projects.


2. The future of North Sea oil and gas:

Last year, former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that Britain should "maximize the use" of North Sea oil and gas. He established a system for issuing new licenses, prompting a former energy minister to resign, saying that it would cause "future harm." Starmer's party said they would respect existing licenses but would not issue new ones.

Although North Sea oil production has continued to decline over the past two decades, it is expected to continue to decline by the middle of this century. How the Labour government's respect for existing licenses and the ban on issuing new licenses will affect communities in northeast Scotland, whose livelihoods are closely linked to the oil and gas industry, is worth pondering.

Currently, oil and gas companies in the UK already face a 75% tax. The Labour government said it would increase this proportion to 78%.


3. Social consensus on climate action:

Unlike the polarization of the United States, the UK has shown a high degree of consistency in the necessity of addressing climate change. In fact, climate issues have always been the darling of the Conservative Party. From Mrs. Thatcher to Theresa May, and then to Boris Johnson, they have all paid great attention.

Whether the Starmer government can find a balance between climate action and economic development and avoid policy shifts that cause social divisions will be another big test.

British prime ministers are a group of people who shuttle between the past and the future. They must not only protect the country's traditions and pride, but also bravely lead it to a brighter future.


According to the Starmer government's "3C (Challenge, Cooperate and Compete)" political stance, he needs to seek long-term development in the post-Brexit era and under the pressure of domestic inflation in the UK.

Given China's important position in the global economy, the UK is likely to seek cooperation opportunities with China in trade, investment and technology, especially in green energy, infrastructure and high-tech industries, to promote the UK's economic development and green transformation.

On the other hand, the Starmer government may also remain vigilant on sensitive issues such as human rights, cybersecurity, and intellectual property protection, and coordinate positions with allies to ensure Britain's core interests and values.


No matter how the times change, British has always maintained a unique charm. It not only carries a profound historical heritage, but also constantly adapts to the needs of modern society.

Just like those art treasures that have been polished by time, although the surface may be covered with a thin layer of dust, it can still shine brightly under the right light.

Comments


bottom of page