As parliament returns from summer holidays, what should Theresa May do for the environment? Here are 9 green policy tests for the new Prime Minister and her Tory government.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a summer for UK politics with resignations, scandals, a new Prime Minister and a host of new party leaders.

Now summer’s over it’s time for Parliament, and Theresa May’s new Cabinet, to get down to business.

So what’s coming up for Theresa May in her first year?

Here are 9 green tests we want her to pass.

Test 1: Stop Heathrow expansion

If the decision about whether to expand Heathrow feels like it’s been dragging on for years, that’s because it has. Now though, finally, it looks like a decision is just around the corner.

Aviation has major impacts both on global climate change and local air quality – with airplane pollution consisting of CO2, NO2, soot and other particles. Theresa May even said so herself:

[A third runway at Heathrow] would undermine our national [climate] targets and seriously damage the health of the local community. Theresa May, 2008

This decision is a watershed moment for the government’s approach to decisions. Will short-term profit win the day? Or will environmental evidence prevail?

Government divisions seem to be fading. Theresa May now looks ready to back a new runway and push it through Parliament in the very near future.

Not only do we not need a new runway at Heathrow, we don’t need new runways anywhere in the UK.

Did you know that just 15% of British people take over 70% of all our flights?

The majority of the pollution is caused by the richest in our society. It doesn’t have to be like this.

Proposals like ‘a free ride’ show how we could cut down on total flights while ensuring everyone gets the opportunity to fly tax free once a year.

Most people would see flights get cheaper. And new technology is seeing the need for business flights tumble.

The Heathrow test? Keep plans for expansion grounded and commit to no new runways.

Test 2: Stop fracking

Fracking is the controversial method of extracting gas from underground by pumping high pressure fluids into the rock.

At a time when we need to be showing dirty fossil fuels the door, fracking would lock us into another generation of climate-changing energy.

A recent independent report from the Committee on Climate Change said fracking could lead to the UK missing our legally binding climate targets.

Fracking also has links to drinking water contamination in the USA and Australia.

Theresa May’s government has accelerated the push for fracking.

First, it tried to bribe local people to take fracking sites in their neighbourhoods – which our friends at Greenpeace showed was mostly hot air.

Then, in early October 2016, it gave the go-ahead for fracking in Lancashire where the local community has been fighting it for over 5 years.

In her first speech as Prime Minister, Theresa May said ‘When we take the big calls, we’ll think not of the powerful, but you.’ The Lancashire fracking decision flies in the face of that commitment

The government is going in completely the wrong direction on fracking.

It is siding with the fracking industry which itself has said will generate tiny numbers of jobs and will not cut fuel bills.

The test? We’ve been frack free in the UK for 5 years. It’s not too late to call a halt before drilling starts. It should ban all fracking immediately.

Test 3: Bring an end to coal

Coal is the filthiest energy source powering the UK – causing climate change and air pollution. It is a dinosaur technology that has no place in a modern energy mix.

The last government promised to phase out all unabated coal by 2025. But big opencast coal mines like Ffos-y-fran in South Wales continue extracting. There’s even an application under consideration for a new mine in the beautiful Northumberland area of Druridge Bay.

Sajid Javid, one of Theresa Mays Cabinet members, has already made one right move. He has “called in” the decision about whether to approve the Druridge Bay coal mine, which means he is will make the decision himself. And he’s said climate change was a reason for calling in the decision.

The test? The government needs to turn down the new mine at Druridge Bay, and follow through on the promised coal phase-out from our energy system.

This must be done in a way that provides a just transition for coal mining communities. We must replace the dirty jobs of the past with secure, clean and fairly paid jobs of the future.

Test 4: Clean up the UK’s filthy air

Did you know that air pollution causes 40,000 early deaths in the UK per year?

There’s a number of causes for our filthy air problem, but the number one problem is pollution from traffic.

And all cars are not created equal. Diesel vehicles are the most polluting of all.

If we want to stop so many people dying early from polluted air we have to get diesel vehicles off our streets.

The test? Commit to ditching diesel by 2025. Helping people to switch from diesel to clean vehicles and alternatives will take time. But a commitment from Theresa May now would show that she’s serious about early deaths from air pollution. It would signal to car manufacturers that we are calling time on this dirty technology. And give them the push they need to focus on clean car technologies.

Test 5: A Brexit that protects our environment

Months after the vote to leave the EU we’re still little closer to knowing what life outside the European Union might look like.

The planned “Great Repeal Bill” has given some technical detail on how we might actually cut ties with the EU. But it brings us no closer to a long-term vision of the UK outside the Union.

Up to 80% of our environmental protections come from the EU. While we need even stronger protections, the EU has been in important in saving our bees, cleaning up our air and stopping fracking.

We know that whichever way people voted – leave or remain – the vast majority of people want our environment to be protected.

The test? Outside of the EU, will the UK become a world leader on climate and restoring nature? We must inspire other countries to do more and raise standards.

Theresa May should start by committing to maintaining and strengthening all environmental protections, long term. On top of this, we must continue to work with our European and international partners on long- term shared issues like air pollution and climate change.

Once ties are cut with the EU, there’s a risk Ministers will reach for their red pens and start scribbling out crucial protections. Any changes must be done in plain sight and with the democratic oversight of Parliament.

Test 6: Ban neonicotinod pesticides permanently

Right now 3 neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) are banned here and in other European countries after they were found to pose a “high acute risk” to honeybees.

A mounting body of evidence now shows neonics harm a wide range of bee species and could be playing a significant role in bee population decline.

But the current ban doesn’t extend to some important crops such as wheat – and it is under constant attack from pesticide firms and the National Farmers Union.

Also the Brexit vote means an unsure future for the neonics ban and the bees that it protects.

A European review of the scientific evidence is currently taking place with a major report expected in January. Then it will be decision time for the UK on neonics.

The test? Will Theresa May’s government listen to the growing evidence of harm to pollinators caused by neonicotinoid pesticides and back a permanent and comprehensive ban?

Test 7: Ratify the Paris Agreement on climate and get the UK back on track to meeting carbon targets

The Paris Agreement commits nations to the “highest possible ambition” to keep global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees.

On 5 October 2016 enough countries ratified the Agreement, to make sure it will come into force – on 4 November. President Obama called it a “historic day”. The UK has yet to sign up.

The UK was given credit for its role reaching the climate deal, so it’s getting a bit embarrassing that we’re so late to the party.

Theresa May has said we will ratify the Agreement before the end of the year. It’s time to get this first job done. But far more importantly, action to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals needs to start straight away, because the UK and other nations are way off track: we are heading for 3 degrees warming at least.

Government advisors the Committee on Climate Change has said repeatedly that the UK is not on target to meet even existing pre-Paris climte goals.

The government needs to ramp-up its “carbon plan”, which is many years out-of-date.

The test? Ratifying the Paris Agreement is just the first step for Theresa May. The priority is to deliver a UK action plan in line with the 1.5 degrees Paris goal.

Test 8: Invest to build the green economy of the future

Philip Hammond, our new Chancellor, has said that borrowing to invest may now be back on the table.

This is a big shift from his predecessor George Osborne’s constant belt tightening.

I do think there is a case that we should look at very carefully for targeted, high-value investment in our economic infrastructure. Phillip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer

This opens up many opportunities. We’ll need massive investment to transform our economy and make it sustainable.

From zero carbon new homes to a massive nationwide energy efficiency scheme; from building clean energy and smart-grids infrastructure in every community to transforming our transport system.

These shifts will require investment but will have great benefits for people’s quality of life, for jobs and for the economy.

 

 

The previous Prime Minister David Cameron had the wrong priorities on infrastructure. He committed to embark on the biggest road building scheme in a generation and scrapped the zero carbon homes standard and the main energy efficiency schemes.

The test? Theresa May’s government should invest in the green infrastructure the country needs, and announce that it will not lock the UK economy into any more high-carbon infrastructure.

Test 9: Find a way to back out of Hinkley Point C

In many ways this is a test that has already been failed. Against all rationality Theresa May’s government has given the go-ahead to Hinkley Point C, the new nuclear power station in Somerset.

People have been arguing for years about energy security and the role of China. But the real issue is the eye-watering expense.

There are multiple cleaner, safer and cheaper ways to power our country.

What did the government do when presented with such a controversial decision? Sign a contract with no get out clause.

Despite this, the road to Hinkley Point has many twists and turns to come.

There’s many ways the new reactor may still never get built.

The test? Get as far away from this terrible idea as possible. Instead invest in a cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy system based on renewables, smart-grids, energy storage and efficiency.

Find a way to break the contract and put an end to the Hinkley delusions.

Post written by Connor Schwartz,  10th October 2016