Net zero narratives: sorting fact from fiction

Rising backlash around net zero targets is being fuelled by disinformation. For example, The Tony Blair Institute has released a report claiming that net zero targets harm the public and need to be scrapped. Blaming rising energy bills on renewable power overlooks the primary cause: the UK’s reliance on increasingly expensive imported gas. As the most costly energy source, natural gas sets the ‘wholesale’ price of electricity, which is the main component of energy bills.

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Clean energy is cheaper

Pitting affordability against sustainability is a false binary which simply does not stand up to scrutiny. Decarbonisation benefits both the environment AND the economy. Renewables are already cheaper than fossil fuels, and their price is continuously decreasing. Research from UCL reveals that wind power has saved the UK over £100 billion in energy costs since 2010. The report’s lead author explains how renewable energy is a “high-return national investment”. Its economic benefits are even greater over the long-term thanks to reduced vulnerability to volatile global fossil fuel markets.

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The recently revealed carbon budget delivery plan has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to decarbonise the UK’s electricity supply by 2030. Given the right support, schools can play a leading role in accelerating this transition. Our supporting organisation, Solar for Schools, not only installs solar panels but also provides schools with resources to integrate their solar data into the curriculum, an example of how sustainable campuses and climate education go hand in hand.

But decarbonising our energy supply is not enough on its own. We also need policies to cut energy waste, especially through improving the quality and affordability of insulation. 

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Mythbusting misleading narratives that risk jeopardizing the green energy transition has never been more urgent. ‍

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Let’s work together to counter fiction with facts.

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