The wreckage of climate policy: a cut out and keep guide
"...I see climate action as a vital safety net for our families and business. Protecting our homes, our livelihoods, our prosperity."
So said Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
But as she spoke, a comprehensive demolition job was already underway and it has left those who care about climate change and Britain's clean energy future appalled. While the Climate Change Act is still there it stands amid the wreckage of policies intended to achieve our legally binding climate targets.
It is not just climate campaigners who are shocked: businesses who invested and planned on the basis of established policies, developed over many years, have found these suddenly knocked away.
In upcoming international climate talks, how will the UK government defend itself on the charge of wilful neglect of its responsibilities and vandalism of climate policy?
Here's the charge sheet:
Removing onshore wind subsidies - support to end in April 2016 read more
Cuts to solar subsidies - endangering the industry in order to save households just 50p-£1.20 a year on bills read more
Making renewables pay the climate change levy - this was meant to encourage renewables: it will cost the industry £3.9 billion read more
Planning changes to block onshore wind - making it extremely difficult, even when communities support it. read more
More planning changes to fast-track fracking - only 16 weeks allowed for councils or ministers step in read more
New tax breaks for fossil fuels - £1.3 billion more announced in March - no cuts here! read more
Scrapping the Green Deal for home insulation - What's worse than the weak Green Deal scheme? No support at all. read more
Scrapping the Zero Carbon Homes target - supported by housebuilders as well as environmentalists read more
Massive road-building plans - £15 billion road-building spree still going ahead amid austerity read more
Planning an unnecessary new runway in the South East (and quietly ditching previous pledges on Heathrow) read more
Removing tax incentives to buy less-polluting cars read more
We say...
Respond to Feed in Tariffs consultation on further subsidy cuts - deadline 19 August
Petition to overturn the removal of onshore wind subsidies
Tell Cameron to respect Lancashire Council's democratic decision on fracking