The UK is set to become the first G7 country to legislate for net zero emissions. One architect of the Paris climate agreement said:
Theresa May, desperate to leave a positive legacy, said:
Now is the time to go further and faster to safeguard the environment for our children. This country led the world in innovation during the Industrial Revolution [through the use of fossil fuels], and now we must lead the world to a cleaner, greener form of growth.
Environmental groups welcomed the news, but were concerned that it wasn’t far or fast enough, and that the UK would retain the ability to use international carbon credits. The acting energy minister, said the government did not "intend" to use such credits but had kept it "as an option". The Committee on Climate Change had warned "it is essential that the commitment [to net-zero] is achieved without use of international credits". The chief scientist for Greenpeace UK said:
As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, it is right that the UK is the world’s first major economy to commit to completely end its contribution to climate change, but trying to shift the burden to developing nations through international carbon credits undermines that commitment. This type of offsetting has a history of failure and is not, according to the government’s climate advisers, cost-efficient.
Great news that after a lot of sustained pressure from @ukycc @ExtinctionR @GretaThunberg @davidattenburro @TheGreenParty & others - the UK Government have finally committed to net zero by 2050.— Alexandra Phillips MEP (@alexforeurope) June 12, 2019
If they're even halfway serious about it it means no airport expansion & no fracking https://t.co/OlQZddU7qX
Net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is not only too late but the UK government is also fiddling the books through the use of credits for emissions reducing projects in other countries to dodge domestic emission cuts.#RebelForLife: https://t.co/PzxBohj9iuhttps://t.co/mKg36GotXc— Extinction Rebellion 🐾⌛️🌱 (@ExtinctionR) June 11, 2019
Dieter Helm speaking total sense on @BBCr4today - we need to include the carbon embedded in goods and services imported into the UK in our net zero target. Estimates suggest half the UK's GHG footprint is now embedded in imports.— Miles King (@MilesKing10) June 12, 2019
This week, Ottery St Mary committed to play its part too:
Ottery declares climate change emergency https://t.co/GVdvVLDzcI— Sidmouth Herald (@sidmouthherald) June 11, 2019
As part of the declaration, Ottery Town Council will set up a working group consisting of "councillors, residents, experts, scientists, businesses and young citizens" to recommend actions, policies and changes "to make Ottery St Mary a carbon-zero town by 2030".
Anyone interested in joining the group or has interest or knowledge of environmental issues, the science behind climate change and the local geography and economy should email the assistant town clerk.
Ottery St Mary’s new Mayor said:
Ottery St Mary has been at the forefront of environmental actions for a very long time. We have enjoyed the benefit of several excellent green groups: Recycling in Ottery almost 25 years ago, followed by Otter Rotters and most recently the Plastic Free Ottery group.
It is, therefore, entirely appropriate Ottery will become one of the first towns to comprehensively address this crucially important issue.
I look forward to Ottery St Mary Town Council engaging with local people - especially with younger people - to fully play our part in tackling the great threat of climate change.
