Climate action is an opportunity, not a burden

4 min read1 hr

Net-zero is not a burden but Britain’s best route to lower bills, greater energy security and a cleaner, fairer future – if politicians match the urgency of the crisis, warns Green Party Westminster Leader Dr Ellie Chowns

Despite the near-constant misinformation being churned out by bad-faith actors, there remains a clear scientific consensus when it comes to the climate crisis: namely, that climate breakdown is here and getting worse, and that our window to change course demands not only that we act, but that we act with urgency.

Net-zero is the pathway by which we do so – but current action to achieve it is simply not going far enough, despite the countless benefits it offers. The case for climate action is not purely an environmental one; it is about a wholesale transition to an energy system that is cleaner, more secure and more affordable for families across Britain for generations to come.

Take the question of energy security. The UK’s dependence on foreign oil and gas leaves us dangerously exposed to shocks far beyond our control, as we are seeing currently in the wake of the US/Israeli war on Iran. When conflict abroad drives up global fossil fuel prices, the effects are felt at home almost immediately in energy bills, inflation and the cost of doing business. This is utterly unsustainable: a country with our resources should not be at the mercy of international fossil fuel markets.

The solution is to invest at scale in clean renewable energy: wind, solar, storage, proper insulation and clean heating. Every turbine we build, solar panel we install and home we retrofit limits Britain’s exposure to future energy price shocks and strengthens our national security. This is evidenced by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) itself, which reports that the costs of achieving net-zero by 2050 are lower than the costs of a single fossil fuel price spike like we saw in 2022.¹

Clean power is the cheapest power, and investing in energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to bring bills down. Warm, well-insulated homes use less energy in the first place, and green technology like solar panels and heat pumps mean they cost less to run when the heat does need to be turned on. Ensuring all new buildings meet zero-carbon standards from the outset will avoid locking in higher costs for decades to come, while simultaneously lowering emissions.

Fundamentally, the cost of delaying action is rising. Climate breakdown is already causing real damage – look at the costs that flooding and heatwaves already impose on our communities, infrastructure and public services. The longer we wait, the higher the bill becomes. The CCC has found that without additional adaptation, the cost of climate change could rise to the equivalent of around 1–5 per cent of GDP per year by 2050 – or in other words, up to an estimated £260bn annually.²

But the argument for going further and faster on climate change mitigation is not just about avoiding disaster – it’s about creating opportunity as well. Speeding
up progress on renewables can create skilled jobs in the clean energy sector, improve air quality, reduce fuel poverty and restore the UK’s glorious nature and wildlife. It offers the basis for a more resilient and prosperous economy that genuinely works for British families, underpinned by clean energy and efficient systems.

The UK has everything it needs to stand as a global leader on the path to a cleaner, greener, fairer future – abundant resources, technical expertise, public support. What we are missing is the political ambition and will to match.

This demands sustained investment, clear policy direction and the political integrity to face down misinformation and vested interests which may seek to delay progress. It demands treating climate action as an opportunity, rather than a burden, as we work to achieve net-zero with the urgency the challenge requires.

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