The forthcoming COP26 UN climate change conference in Glasgow does not appear to be resonating with the public. Perhaps it is the meaningless title (Conference of the Parties - thank you Google) or just maybe people can see it for what it is. An opportunity for world leaders to strut the stage, make some dubious commitments, grab some warm and fuzzy headlines, enjoy an agreeable dinner then jet off home.
It didn’t help that the Prime Ministers COP26 spokeswoman Allegra Stratton, suggested not rinsing our dishes will tackle the climate crisis. Social media erupted in hilarity and Greta Thunberg must have been thrilled. But that may turn out to be one of the more sensible proposals adopted in Glasgow.
One thing is for sure. Our government will continue to throw home owner, landlords and tenants under the bus while proclaiming their green credentials to the world. When David Cameron was first elected Prime Minister, he announced “the greenest Government ever”. Astute observers noticed Nick Clegg smiling in the background. Green policies were Nick’s red line for which he sacrificed his policy to scrap student loans and threw the Lib-Dems under the bus.
Fast forward to 2015 and Cameron is elected with an outright majority. One of his first statements, allegedly, was a desire to “get rid of the green crap”. Enter Chancellor George Osborne and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd and the Big Red Pen of State.
In the name of austerity, Rudd abolished free cavity wall and loft insulation grants (the cheapest and easiest fix to lower energy bills and address our carbon footprint). Next, she slashed Feed in Tariff to the bone, a scheme where solar panels on houses received a government subsidy. Solar power is possibly the only truly carbon free energy source but overnight, an entire industry went under the bus.
Next came Renewable Heat Incentive, a scheme to support home owners and landlords swapping carbon generating heating for renewable energy in the form of heat pumps and biomass boilers. Again, slashed to the bone. Even the most eco-friendly home owner or landlord comparing £3,000 for a gas combi boiler with £12,000 for an air source heat pump might decide to go for gas and plant trees at the weekend to offset the carbon. But in a sudden volte face (a Saul on the Road to Damascus moment or a flip-flop depending upon your level of cynicism) air source heat pumps are suddenly all the rage. Government has announced it will install 600,000 annually by 2028. Since only 27,000 were installed in 2019 it is clear our government is not short on ambition. Air source heat pumps are expensive, we do not have enough installers and in many domestic applications they simply do not work. Or rather, they do not work without tearing the property apart and rebuilding the interior. Add that cost to your £12k purchase price.
I am not sure I will be glued to a TV screen for COP26. Rather, I think I shall watch a replay of Euro 2021. It is ages since I talked to my family in Italy and I have forgotten who won.
