"Author Chris Goodall says tackling the climate crisis is neither difficult nor expensive and can help boost the economy
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| Illustration: Guardian Design |
Net zero. It’s a simple enough concept – the notion that we reduce carbon emissions to a level where we are no longer adding to the stock in the atmosphere. More and more companies and countries are taking the pledge, promising to hit net zero by 2050, 2030 or even sooner.
But it is easier said than done. Industrial processes remain carbon intensive, as do agriculture and aviation. Even the sudden economic halt brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic this year will result in a mere downward blip in global greenhouse gas emissions.
The sharp decline in energy use at the beginning of the pandemic has not persisted. Government stimulus programmes have done little to prioritise green projects – barely 1% of the funds made available around the world will target climate crisis mitigation. Hopes that the virus would push us into radical action to reduce emissions have proved illusory.
This may make us pessimistic about the future – but that would be a
mistake. The last six months have seen a growing realisation around the
world that fully decarbonising our societies is technically possible,
relatively cheap and potentially of major benefit to society, and
particularly to less prosperous sectors.
A sensible portfolio of actions could reduce emissions, provide jobs and
improve living standards in forgotten parts of the UK. It won’t be
completely painless, but this nine-step plan can transform much of the
British economy." ...
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...."9. Carbon tax
Lastly, we should try to bring the reluctant oil and gas industries onside by instituting a tax on the production of anything that results in carbon emissions. Rarely in the past have businesses asked to be more heavily taxed. But today almost all large fossil fuel companies are pleading for a carbon levy that provides the necessary incentive for them to wean themselves off extracting oil and gas.
Fighting the causes and consequences of the climate emergency is neither particularly difficult or expensive. The net impact on jobs and living standards will be strongly positive. The programme will require direction from central government, and probably an effective carbon tax, alongside a willingness to hand over some powers to local authorities.
Perhaps this is the most contentious part of the programme I propose:
the idea that Whitehall should recognise both that the free market
needs some assistance when it comes to the climate crisis, and that
devolution of real power to towns and cities could be beneficial to
everybody."
• Chris Goodall is an author and environmentalist whose latest book, What We Need To Do Now, assesses the steps needed to build a low-carbon world and was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. He writes a weekly newsletter on low carbon progress around the world, available at www.carboncommentary.com.
