Environmental groups have criticised the lack of new funding and measures to tackle climate change and the spiralling decline of wildlife. In the Budget Philip Hammond announced schemes to encourage tree planting and to tax plastics, but critics said such actions fail to tackle the problems Britain and the planet as a whole faces. Many pointed out that the chancellor’s speech contained no references to climate change, despite coming in the wake of a major report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the devastating impacts of rising global temperatures.
Independent 30th Oct 2018 read more »
Environmental campaigners have condemned the chancellor’s budget plan to spend £60m on tree planting while £30bn is being pledged for roads. They highlighted the contrast between the money the government is vowing to spend on improving green spaces and how much it is putting towards infrastructure that they fear will encourage driving and damage the environment. Philip Hammond will announce in the budget that £60m will be spent on planting millions more trees across England, including a project to plant new street and urban trees set to receive £10m.
Independent 29th Oct 2018 read more »
Widespread disappointment for the UK renewable energy sector in the Chancellors 2018 Autumn Budget, across a number of clean energy technology sectors, provokes dismayed reactions from trade associations and condemnation from Greenpeace and the Green Party. The Autumn Budget announcement delivered in the House of Commons yesterday (Monday 29th October) by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond was controversial for a number of reasons across a variety of sectors, but the UK renewable energy sector has expressed particular disappointment over the meagre pickings. Yet again, there was no visible support by the government for nationwide food waste collection aimed at driving forward biogas production from anaerobic digestion. The Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) in particular has repeatedly attempted to move the government on this issue, thus far without too much success. ADBA also commented on the need to replace the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in order to further support heat generation from renewable sources. The Solar Trade Association (STA) quickly expressed its bitter disappointment with the Autumn Budget Announcement shortly after its delivery yesterday. The announcement saw no progress on reasonable requests by the UK solar industry for fair tax treatment. This means that barriers to the uptake of solar and storage in the UK, which put clean energy at a competitive disadvantage compared to fossil fuels, remain in place, including business rates and capital allowance treatment. Tax disadvantages will therefore continue to hamper the progress of renewables and smart energy in Britain, just as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the time left to act is fast running out.
Renewable Energy Magazine 30th Oct 2018 read more »
The UK renewables lobby has once again expressed its exasperation that clean energy failed to merit a mention within this year’s Budget, despite the government teasing an overhaul of tax benefits for on-site generators. Yesterday afternoon chancellor Philip Hammond delivered the 2018 Budget, but during his speech in the House of Commons failed to mention climate change or renewable energy at all. This was compounded by the complete omission of renewables from the Red Book documents despite clean growth being a central factor of the government’s industrial strategy.
Solar Power Portal 30th Oct 2018 read more »
Letter Green Alliance: Only a few weeks ago the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that we have only 12 years to avert catastrophic global warming. Philip Hammond gave the government’s response in his budget on Monday: he did not mention climate change once. Actions, though, speak louder than words. The chancellor announced the freezing of fuel duty and pumped money into road-building. He replaced £2 billion a year of European Investment Bank lending, most of which goes to clean energy, with a fund a tenth of the size. There is to be continuing policy uncertainty for investors in renewables but a £3 billion tax break for the oil and gas industry.
Times 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Five things you might have missed from yesterday’s Budget. 1. Businesses get extra help for energy efficiency; 2. National Infrastructure Commission gets fresh remit to investigate climate challenges
Business Green 30th Oct 2018 read more »
The government has published the interim response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s flagship assessment of the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs. The government has published its interim response to the NIA. This sets out the governments track record of investment, and new steps taken at Budget in response to NIC priorities. The government will formally respond to the NIA in 2019, publishing a comprehensive National Infrastructure Strategy.
Treasury 29th Oct 2018 read more »
In reaction to the government’s interim response[1] to the National Infrastructure Assessment, Kate Blagojevic, Head of Energy at Greenpeace UK, said “The NIC made some clear, quantifiable recommendations based on extensive investigations about the future for our energy system, and it looks like the government is going to give them the brush off. For example, the NIC made it clear that it would run counter to economic logic to commit to building more than one new nuclear reactor after Hinkley C. For the government to reply with their stock response of listing what they are doing already is patronising and depressing. We paid experts to study these issues and make recommendations. If the government thinks those recommendations are wrong, they should at least explain why.”
Greenpeace 30th Oct 2018 read more »