IEMA Reacts to Chancellor’s Spending Statement

IEMA's Chief Policy Advisor Martin Baxter comments on the Chancellor's spending statement

Commenting on the Chancellor’s spending statement, MartinBaxter, IEMA’s Chief Policy Advisor, said:

“We welcome the Chancellor’s allocation of additional funding for tackling air pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. However, it is essential that comprehensive policies and plans are put in place to deliver the net-zero 2050 carbon target and to establish a framework of environmental governance through the Environment Bill as part of the transition to a sustainable economy. These are needed to give confidence for private sector investment in improvements.”

“At a time when public concern about climate change is at a record level, reducing carbon emissions and enhancing climate resilience needs to be integrated into all Government spending decisions.”

In June 2019 the UK Government legislated for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This will require significant investment if we are to successfully make the transition and put sustainability at the heart of the UK’s economic model.

In the recent Government public attitudes tracker[i], 80% of the public said they were either fairly concerned (45%) or very concerned (35%) about climate change. This is the highest proportion of overall concern since the survey started and is driven by an increase in those very concerned about climate change.

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[i] Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2019) “Public Attitudes Tracker - March 2019 (Wave 29)”available here