PM urged to take note of public zeal for net zero action

The members of the pioneering citizens assembly, which has been set up to help the UK chart a route to net-zero emissions, have overwhelmingly backed using post-pandemic stimulus measures to support carbon reduction.

In an interim report, published today (23 June), the Climate Assembly UK has outlined the results of the votes on its final weekend when it considered how to align economic recovery measures with the UK’s 2050 target.

More than three quarters (79 per cent) of assembly members agreed that steps taken by the government to help the economy recover should also be designed to help achieve net zero. This included 42 per cent who strongly agreed with only nine per cent disagreeing.

Those members unsure or who disagreed with the statement tended to emphasise a need to focus on economic recovery first and foremost.

An even higher proportion (93 per cent) agreed that government, employers and others should take steps as lockdown eases to encourage lifestyles to change to be more compatible with reaching net zero, with only four per cent disagreeing.

The assembly has admitted that its final report will not be published until September after its final monthly meeting, which was due to take place in Birmingham in March, had to be cancelled as the coronavirus lockdown came into force. Instead of a weekend-long meeting, physically bringing together all of its 108 members, the assembly conducted a series of online meetings during April and May.

The assembly’s main and much more detailed recommendations on the path to net zero, are due to be outlined in the final report.

The chairs of the six House of Commons select committees, which have commissioned the assembly, have urged Boris Johnson to take account of the assembly’s findings when preparing its economic recovery package.

In a letter to the prime minister, they write: “Together they (the assembly members) provide a unique insight into the views of an informed, representative sample of the UK population on the pathway to, and trade-offs associated with, achieving net zero.

“In recent months the UK public has demonstrated its capacity to respond positively and responsibly when they understand the risks posed to them by an invisible threat that demands collective action. We believe that a similar approach, based on securing public support for ambitious policies through open dialogue around the science, is a sound basis for the net zero journey.”

The citizens’ assembly brought together a group of people, who reflect the broader population, to deliberate on the trade-offs which will be required for the UK to achieve its 2050 net zero target fairly.