The UK’s Labour party has secured a historic victory in the country’s general election, winning a substantial majority of the 650 seats. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s manifesto promised extensive changes to the nation’s climate, energy, and nature policies. Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero, reiterated key pledges such as reaching zero-carbon power by 2030, relaunching the UK’s ambition to be a global climate leader, and rewriting the net-zero strategy.
Meeting these milestones will require significant changes across every sector of the economy, from overhauling the planning system to developing a “just transition” plan for the North Sea oil and gas sector. Labour will also need to address a backlog of overdue frameworks, strategies, and international commitments left incomplete by the previous government. The new administration has committed to reversing climate policies enacted by Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government.
The factory operated by Siemens Gamesa on the Humber estuary outside Hull is a case study for how the Labour government hopes to use investment in clean energy to bolster economic growth. Andy Sykes, the factory manager, said that £500 million had already been invested in the plant, which employs 1,300 people in an area that has struggled economically for decades. However, analysts warn that Labour’s proposals are unlikely to be cheap and could come at the cost of jobs in the oil and gas industry.
The transition is fraught with challenges, including high costs and potential economic displacement for workers in traditional energy sectors. The new Labour government faces a massive task in seeking to repair the UK’s degraded environment and fight the climate crisis. After 14 years under Conservative leadership, the UK finds itself in a poor state on nearly all green fronts.
Labour’s headline green pledge is to transform the UK into a “clean energy superpower” by decarbonising electricity by 2030. This will require significant boosts in renewable energy, including lifting the ban on onshore windfarms in England, boosting offshore wind, greenlighting new solar farms, and helping households and businesses increase energy efficiency. The UK’s ageing fleet of nuclear reactors needs replacement, but new atomic power stations face delays and cost increases.
Carbon capture remains unimplemented at any scale, and the practicality of hydrogen for home heating is questionable.
Labour’s ambitious climate action plan
Draughty, damp, and mouldy homes are widespread, with the UK lacking a stable government programme for insulation over the past decade.
Labour has promised roughly £13bn to help vulnerable households, with tougher rules on private landlords to enforce improvements. Labour’s transport policies focus on regenerating the rail service and allowing communities to control bus services. However, managing the overcrowded, overpriced, and unreliable rail services left behind by Conservatives will be a long-term project.
Labour will stop issuing new licences for North Sea oil extraction but won’t revoke existing ones. This leaves the future of some major fields uncertain. Labour must present a concrete plan for the 200,000 workers dependent on these industries, particularly in Scotland.
Climate breakdown is already affecting food production worldwide, and Brexit has further complicated imports and exports. Labour promises a new strategy for farming and food, addressing the inadequacies of the Conservative’s environmental land management schemes. Water companies have distributed £72bn in dividends while infrastructure has deteriorated.
No new reservoirs have been built, and leaky networks persist, threatening droughts despite record rains. Between 28,000 and 36,000 people across the UK die prematurely from air pollution each year. Labour aims to switch drivers to electric vehicles and boost walking and cycling, introducing measures such as low-emission zones.
The new Labour government faces a daunting task in addressing these environmental challenges. Success will require coherent and decisive action across multiple fronts, from energy and transportation to farming and water quality. The spotlight is now on Labour to turn ambitious pledges into impactful policies.
