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industry & Government news

EAC CALLS FOR GREEN RECOVERY TO

AVOID WORST RISKS OF CLIMATE CRISIS

CLIMATE CHANGE POSES A GREATER
THREAT THAN THE PANDEMIC, SAY MPS

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT and items that have been recycled to into account the impact of nature, and
COMMITTEE (EAC) has called on the encourage a circular economy. piloting a new National Nature Service
government to prioritise investment Environmental Audit Committee can protect wildlife while offering
in a green recovery, reports Chairman Philip Dunne MP said: employment opportunities.
Environment Journal. “The Covid-19 crisis must be treated “There will be no vaccine against
In a new report, the cross-party as a wake-up call. It is a symptom runaway climate change, and it is
committee has warned that if the of a growing ecological emergency. our responsibility now, using the
economic recovery from Covid-19 is The economic recovery will shape opportunity of the economic recovery,
not used as an opportunity to ‘grow our national economy for decades to to set the UK on track for net zero.”
back better’ then climate change and come, and it is crucial that tackling Jamie Sawyer, a lawyer at
biodiversity collapse may deliver an climate change and restoring nature ClientEarth who gave evidence to the
even greater crisis. is at its core. EAC in September 2020, said: “The
The committee has highlighted that “A tax system fit for net zero Britain Environmental Audit Committee’s
while the PM’s ten-point plan for a is key. It will encourage innovation, report makes clear that to ensure a
green revolution is in the right direction, give confidence to the sector and resilient recovery from Covid-19, the
further work needs to be done and support companies to make the low UK’s economic and monetary policies
strategies need to be published. carbon transition. must be fully aligned with its net
Based on this, the report calls for the “There are endless initiatives that zero goals.
government to increase investment can lead to a greener future and the “The government’s recent support to
into areas such as energy efficiency, Chancellor should use his upcoming companies – whether through a bailout
the circular economy, climate adaption budget statement to start this process. loan under ‘Project Birch’ or loans to
and nature recovery, to counter rising Boosting energy efficiency of homes airlines with government guarantees –
unemployment by creating green jobs. by reducing VAT on retrofits can spur have not been transparent and had no
The report highlights that investment growth in low carbon manufacturing. or limited climate conditions attached.
in green transport is key, not only to The funding allocated to the Green “For all future bailouts and public
improve air pollution but also to cut Homes Grant should be rolled over support, the government and the Bank
carbon and improve health and fitness. to meet the target to issue 600,000 of England must require recipients
The EAC also recommends that vouchers. The electric vehicle transition to provide climate-related financial
the government introduce embodied must be accelerated with further tax disclosures.
carbon targets for the construction of incentives to encourage take-up. “But climate-related disclosures are
new homes and they also state that the “But a greener future hinges on the not enough. They must attach legally
Green Homes Grant must be overhauled health of biodiversity and ecosystems. enforceable conditions to public
and given a multi-year extension. The economic recovery must not support that require a commitment
The report highlights that there should overlook nature recovery. Planning to reach net zero by 2050, and a clear
be VAT reductions to repair services and infrastructure decisions must take strategy to get there.”

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