Britain’s Conservative-Liberal Democrat government is to “champion” a global agreement to tackle climate change, but at the same time has angered environmentalists.
The commitment in relation to climate change action was made in a speech read by Queen Elizabeth II to open the new parliament.
At the same time the government angered environmentalists by confirming controversial plans to accelerate the development of shale gas projects and water down proposed zero-carbon homes rules.
Setting out the coalition’s new legislative agenda in the annual Queen’s Speech, the monarch announced a handful of widely trailed green measures and reiterated that government ministers would “champion efforts to secure a global agreement on climate change” in the run up to next year’s UN summit in Paris.
Most notably, the new legislative agenda includes an infrastructure bill that will tear up current trespass regulations that could have been used by opponents of hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ to stop companies exploring for shale gas beneath private property.
“My government will introduce a Bill to bolster investment in infrastructure and reform planning law to improve economic competitiveness,” she said.
“The Bill will enhance the United Kingdom’s energy independence and security by opening up access to shale and geothermal sites and maximising North Sea resources.”
The proposals have faced fierce opposition from environmental campaigners and prompted Greenpeace to stage a protest outside the Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s constituency home to highlight how the new rules would leave residents unable to stop fracking companies from drilling under their homes.
However, there were also a number of measures announced that will be welcomed by green businesses and NGOs.
The government confirmed that legislation would be brought forward to reduce plastic bag use, and reiterated that the government will “continue to implement major reforms to the electricity market”.
The coalition has been repeatedly criticised for failing to deliver a sufficiently stable energy policy environment.
However, ministers have responded by arguing that last year’s Energy Act was passed with an overwhelming majority and should now provide investors and energy companies with the certainty they need to drive the development of new low carbon energy capacity.
In a speech that was criticised for failing to deliver much in the way of significant new legislative announcements, the Queen said the government would continue to deliver progress on its plans for a new generation of garden cities, and confirmed that long-awaited legislation imposing new green standards on house builders will be delivered.
“Legislation will allow for the creation of an allowable solutions scheme to enable all new homes to be built to a zero-carbon standard,” she said.
The zero-carbon home proposals follow months of uncertainty over the precise details of the new standards, and should help mobilise investment in green building technologies.
However, the government has been accused of significantly watering down the original proposals by allowing developers to comply with the standards by funding offsite green projects, known as ‘allowable solutions’, and exempting some small developers from the rules.
The Queen’s Speech made no mention of reported new legislation that could require renewable energy developers to offer local residents the chance to purchase a stake in clean energy projects.
However, a spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change confirmed that new powers would be included in the infrastructure bill.
Overall, green groups were unimpressed by the government’s new legislative agenda and were further angered by confirmation from the Queen that the government will work to freeze fuel duty and “guarantee long-term investment in the road network”.
Ben Stafford, head of public affairs at WWF-UK, welcomed the UK’s commitment to playing a leading role in a new international climate treaty.
