As the Labour government flails under increasing unemployment and decreasing public trust, Alistair Darling took the rather brave option of putting carbon conservation at the centre of this year’s budget. Darling’s “carbon budget” represents a global breakthrough, and commits the UK to the most ambitious climate change prevention targets in the world. Central to the carbon budget, which demands that carbon emissions are cut by 34% of 1990 levels, is the investment in green energy technology and thus the creation of green jobs.
It is of course fantastic that Darling has plumped for the green economics option, and quite brave considering that, in the midst of the credit crunch, traditionally carbon-guzzling industries such as car manufacture are suffering serious losses in both funds and human resources. There are always areas to improve in, however, and various critics have been quick to swipe the struggling chancellor.
Many have said that there has not been provision within the budget for proper assistance for businesses to meet carbon reduction targets. Whilst £1.4 billion of public and private money has been earmarked to assist going green in business, it does not, apparently, represent a true commitment from the government.
Gareth Stace, Head of Policy at manufacturers association EEF, said as much. “This is not a significant amount of money,” he told the Financial Times. “If climate change is really the biggest threat to mankind, this is not nearly enough. We were expecting something a lot bolder.” Boldness is something that the current administration lacks, perhaps unsurprisingly given the political climate.
Moving on, the other main criticism of the green budget is that key details, such as how such a budget will affect policy-making, were left out of the budget, and instead will be announced by the Department for Energy and Climate Change later this year. This represents a government rather slow on the uptake with its green policy, despite having talked about it for several years now.
Gripes aside, the carbon budget is the firmest affirmation yet of the government’s commitment to reducing climate change effects and creating green jobs. It isn’t perfect, but “perfection” was not a point in Labour’s manifesto. It may take a while, but green jobs are now far more definitely on the horizon.
