Environment & Energy
UK Energy and Environment Policy Tracker
Latest Environment & Energy Publications
Great Restorations
William NicollePolling for Policy Exchange that finds each policy measure within the Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution receives moderate or strong support. The results appear to vindicate short-term government strategy, with 73% supporting the use of public money to invest in residential energy efficiency measures and a majority of the population backing the ban of petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
Reforming Australia’s electricity market
Ed BirkettFollowing a regional blackout in 2016, the Australian Governments established review of their electricity market. In October this year, Ministers approved a package of reforms to Australia’s National Electricity Market. This report explores the Australian reforms and looks for lessons for the UK.
Nature and the City
William NicolleFollowing periods of lockdown in 2020 and 2021, many people discovered a renewed appreciation for local green spaces, particularly in urban areas.
However, over the last 20 years, the amount of urban green space in England fell by 8%, with a corresponding decline in some species, particularly bird.
This report explores measures to increase access to nature in urban areas, for example by planting trees and by requiring new homes to include specialist bricks that can provide habitats for birds and bees.
Latest Environment & Energy Blogs
“Electric petrol stations” are important, but don’t forget “slow” chargepoints.
Last week (Thursday 13th January), a new electric vehicle charging hub opened in London, replacing an existing petrol station. Ultra-rapid charging hubs like this will be extremely important to support EV drivers who need to charge up quickly on the move.
However, the Government must not overlook the role of “slow” chargepoints (circa 5kW). These chargepoints take several hours to an electric vehicle (EV), but can be installed cheaply in homes and businesses, often without requiring expensive new electricity cables or digging up roads.
Five options to reduce energy bills
Energy policy is back on the front pages, with stories about rising energy bills, energy suppliers going bust, and concerns over security of supply, with the UK’s electricity grid appearing to creak even before demand ramps up during the winter.
It’s a formidable in-tray for new Energy Minister Greg Hands, who will benefit from working alongside BEIS Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, a former Energy Minister himself.
Is Net Zero a “dangerous trap”?
Voices in the environment sector have long fired criticisms at Net Zero, the Government’s target for eradicating emissions by the middle of this century. Last year, Greta Thunberg argued that the world should ‘forget’ Net Zero, and an article recently posted by The Conversation argued it is a “dangerous trap”. However, the opposite is true; Net Zero is a practical and a political victory for the decarbonisation agenda, not a dangerous trap worth forgetting.
Latest Environment & Energy News
Charging Up
Policy ExchangeThe Energy & Environment Unit at Policy Exchange launched a paper warning that the installation of electric vehicle chargepoints would have to be five times faster during the 2020s to make the petrol and diesel vehicle ban workable. The report was authored by Ed Birkett, Senior Fellow and William Nicolle, Research Fellow at Policy Exchange. The release coincided with the Government’s announcement of £20m additional funding for EV charging infrastructure. Read coverage of the report in The Telegraph, Sky News, Bloomberg and BBC News. Read the report here.
Boris Johnson sets out the vision for his Premiership
Policy ExchangeBoris Johnson set out his vision for the United Kingdom on the steps of Downing Street yesterday – in the course of which he embraced many of the ideas championed by Policy Exchange in our series of policy proposals for the next Prime Minister.
Policy Exchange plan to tackle carbon emissions recommended by Government Committee
Policy ExchangeIn a major win for Policy Exchange, the official body advising the UK Government has recommended it considers the adoption of carbon border adjustment tariffs to help meet the Net Zero carbon emissions target.
Latest Environment & Energy Events
Upcoming Events
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Friday, 29 October, 2021
11:00 - 12:00
This event will launch the new edition of Environmental Affairs, Policy Exchange’s journal examining the overlap between environment and other policy areas. Our new edition, on the topic of ‘unleashing climate capital’, will feature leading policy thinkers including Dambisa Moyo, former Energy Secretaries Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom MP and Rt Hon Amber Rudd, and Pensions Minister Guy Opperman MP.
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Tuesday, 13 April, 2021
15:00 - 16:00
Launching Environmental Affairs, a new policy journal, General David Petraeus delivered a keynote speech presenting a framework for approaching geopolitical risks in an age of climate change. As environmental issues rise up the political agenda throughout the world, they increasingly touch on all areas of public policy.
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Thursday, 11 March, 2021
16:00 - 17:00
The North Sea offers opportunities to decarbonise the UK economy while generating economic benefits for the regions that border it. It’s future development is therefore strategically central to delivering two of the Government’s flagship agendas: Net Zero, and Levelling Up.
Policy Exchange examined these issues in its recent report, The Future of the North Sea. The report found that the basin could generate up to £20bn per year of investment in coastal regions and a net increase of up to 40,000 direct jobs connected to its energy industry.
Panel with Ben Houchen, Melanie Onn, Nicola Shaw CBE, Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Chaired by Benedict McAleenan.
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Tuesday, 26 January, 2021
10:30 - 11:30
The UK’s Net Zero target requires all sectors of the economy to decarbonise, particularly electricity, transport, heating, and industry. At this event, the panel will discuss the main elements of the UK Government’s recent Energy White Paper, including any areas where the Government could have gone further.
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Wednesday, 17 October, 2018
11:30 - 13:15
The concept of a ‘hydrogen economy’ has been put forward by proponents for many decades. In theory, this abundant element is a perfect solution to our clean energy needs. It does not produce greenhouse gases when burned, it can be stored in large quantities for long periods, and it can be used as a fuel in virtually every sector of our economy, from transport to heavy industry to home heating. Despite the notion existing for some time, and recognition of the environmental benefits that this entails, it is yet to materialise fully.
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Wednesday, 10 October, 2018
11:30 - 13:30
The launch of our new report The Future of Carbon Pricing: Implementing an independent carbon tax with dividends in the UK.
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Tuesday, 18 September, 2018
12:00 - 14:00
About the event The UK energy system is undergoing a transformation towards a decarbonised, decentralised, and digitalised future. According to research by the Carbon Trust and Imperial College London, a smart flexible electricity grid could help the UK cut carbon more cheaply, saving up to £40bn between now and 2050. The National Infrastructure Commission concluded that a (more…)
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Tuesday, 14 November, 2017
12:30 - 14:00
Policy Exchange invites you to a discussion of the role of business energy productivity in delivering clean growth. Despite policymakers actively considering what to do next, there is still a need for significant thinking to progress from the generic barriers identified to the concrete policy recommendations set out in this report.
Venue: Policy Exchange
Address:
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Monday, 25 September, 2017
17:30 - 18:30
Speakers: Andy McDonald MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Lilian Greenwood MP, Chair, Transport Select Committee, Prof Marcus Newborough, Development Director, ITM Power, Marcus Stewart, Head of Energy Insights, UK Energy Strategy, National Grid, Mike Copson, Hydrogen Business Development Manager, Shell New Energies, Matt Rooney, Energy and Environment Research Fellow, Policy Exchange
Venue: Labour Party Conference
Address:
