As the year comes to an end, Executive Director David Murray reflects on the past 12 months and the role of the public in behaviour change. It is increasingly clear that consumers are prepared to make changes to tackle climate change and reduce energy use.
A significant part of our emissions reductions will need to come from our collective consumption decisions. Sustainability First commissioned a YouGov survey of the GB public (1769 adults), to better understand changes we all need to make to tackle climate change. We found that nearly half of all respondents had switched or plan to switch to green energy; 26% of respondents said they had already switched to a ‘green’ energy supplier, that generates all its electricity using renewables and 23% said they intended to in the future. The majority had also already reduced their energy use or lowered their heating, with 73% saying they had switched on the heating less or turned their thermostat down and another 8% said that they would in future. But what is required is government action to make wide-scale changes happen, and at pace.
While consumers are prepared to make changes, it is striking what barriers people face to making changes that are necessary to decarbonise GB’s economy. When asked 'What, if anything, stops you from taking actions to reduce your carbon footprint?' Forty five percent of all respondents said that it was the cost of doing so and a further 25% said they couldn’t take certain actions because of barriers currently preventing them from doing so (work, family or other practical circumstances). When asked what would help individuals make more environmentally friendly choices, 53% said government financial support for making changes that reduce individuals’ carbon footprint (e.g. for the installation of new clean heating technologies), while 33% said more and better information on how to make more environmentally friendly choices would help. The shift away from fossil fuels, to fundamentally change the system, is dependent on government actions.
Anyone hoping that the government’s efforts to tackle climate challenge, by doubling investment on insulating new homes (an additional £6bn from 2025), marks a turning point, could be disappointed when seen in context; the cost to the public of bailing out Bulb is at £6.5billion. And news that the first new coal mine in 30 years has been approved in Cumbria, is both shocking and gives entirely the wrong signal about the journey needed for the shift to clean energy.
Could businesses step up?
But it is not just central government that we need to address these issues. It is encouraging to see that many responsible businesses and councils are thinking about how they can best help during the energy and cost of living crisis. Zoe McLeod, Sustainability First Policy Director, outlined four key actions that organisations should take to maximise social benefit while also supporting their own long-term financial sustainability. Such goals do not have to be mutually exclusive, but mutually beneficial.
Why the failing energy sector is a lesson for all regulators
A key report earlier this year about the flawed actions of energy regulator Ofgem prompted Policy Director, Zoe McLeod, to consider what important lessons could be learned by all regulators. With references to Ofgem being “incompetent”, to criticism of its “negligence” and “systemic failure to effectively regulate”, the House of Commons BEIS’ Select Committee’s report on Energy pricing and the future of the Energy Market did not pull any punches. Zoe argued that regulators’ values need updating to align with their duties - consumers and the environment should be at the heart of their decision-making, rather than competition, which is a means and not an end in itself.
A secure energy future
In the light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it might be tempting to focus on short term energy security. But the need to address the climate crisis and ensure a fair transition to net zero have not gone away. In fact it is more urgent than ever that we stick to our net zero targets accelerating action on climate change and shifting to clean energy is the best way to improve our energy security. Our position paper published earlier in the year remains relevant, and set out ten recommendations on what we must do to create a secure, equitable and sustainable energy future for all.
There's growth, and then there's growth
Throughout this year we have faced multiple challenges, of higher prices generally, soaring energy costs and an ongoing energy crisis, all set against a backdrop of climate change and a need to cut our emissions. Certain press outlets (and politicians) would have us believe that we can focus either on addressing the challenges of this winter or the needs of the planet. With this in mind, the government’s new “growth plan” published in September prompted huge debate and controversy. But whatever people may have felt about the specific proposals, and who they would benefit, it also raised questions about the growth agenda more widely, and specifically for the utility sector. Our Associate, and former treasury macro-economist, Martin Hurst, asked how the needs of net zero and the natural environment - both critical to utilities - could be legitimately framed as good for growth.
Our hopes for 2023
Consistent thinking, focussed on the long-term and coupled with a belief in and commitment to creating a fair, inclusive green energy system, and indeed green economy. If we want to achieve net zero and a genuinely fair transition, then a focus on unheard voices being proactively engaged by utilities companies should be a major priority in 2023. We hope to take forwards work on society and consumers placing greater value on water; develop better understanding of the minimum level of energy needed to participate in society with dignity, and support and challenge regulators through a Sustainable Futures Forum, piloting the project with partners at Ofgem. We also aim to grow our new Corporate Membership Network to champion leadership on sustainability across all sectors.