The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will make a statement on 11 June explaining her latest thinking in a spending review, which is widely expected to row back on some of the ‘greener’ elements of government policy.
The Times recently reported that the £6.6 billion allocated for the Warm Homes Front is at risk of being cut.
The Independent says that it will be impossible to invest in growth, public services and net zero and the chancellor is under real pressure over her spending plans.
And the National Farmers’ Union is warning that cuts to any nature-friendly farming budget will mean the government effectively giving up on its environmental targets.
We should all ask ourselves “What sort of ancestor do you want to be?”
Russell Jones Content and communications manager
More spending not less
Meanwhile the Guardian reports that ex-military leaders are calling on the government to widen its definition of national security to include food, the climate and energy in any planning for defence spending.
The London School of Economics calls for the Chancelleor to prioritise climate change rather than look for cuts.
And The Local Government Chronical has an article from the leader of Mid Suffolk District Council calling for a boost in growth through retrofitting to keep UK homes warm.
So, just what should the government do and how can it all be paid for in these financially constrained times?
Populist promises under review
Some argue that the government is running scared of Reform UK, who seem to be rising in the polls.
It is true that for a party with just five MP’s Nigel Farage and Reform do seem to get a lot of media attention. Farage is reported as saying that ditching net zero would save the UK over £40bn a year, but this has been completely debunked by experts.
Reform had said the huge annual savings from scrapping net zero projects was based on a report by the Institute for Government (IfG).
But actually, as the Standard reports, the IfG itself have stressed that the overwhelming majority of this investment, would come from the private sector, not the public purse.
According to the report, Farage and Reform appear to have completely overinflated net zero costs to appeal to climate sceptic voters.
At this point I would make a completely personal note that Nigel Farage was a major influence in selling Brexit to the nation, so perhaps that highlights just how much his current figures should be scrutinised before anyone thinks of voting for his party!
So what can you do?
I’ve written before about the need for all of us to do what we can, however small and insignificant that may feel, to help the world survive.
Actually, that’s not quite the right phrase. The world will survive. It’s humanity and life as we know it that is in trouble.
Mother Earth has been here considerably longer than we have and, regardless of what we do, she will be here long after we have all gone. It’s just a question of how much damage we can do to the planet and other species, before we come a cropper!
Which brings me to a question that all of us should ask ourselves: What sort of ancestor do you want to be?
In other words, when your great, great grandchildren look back at the world that you have left them, how will they judge you?
Take back control
And of course, this is where one can start to feel hopeless because so much of this is beyond the control of you and me as individuals.
But this is actually the crux of my argument. If we all do what we can to help tackle climate change then we will all collectively make a difference.
And that can be as simple as remembering to turn the tap off when you brush your teeth or using the washing line to dry clothes rather than the tumble drier or cutting meat out of one meal a week or walking to the shops rather than taking the car.
None of this has to be difficult, and all of it will make a small difference.
And you are NOT alone. There are millions of others who have realised that something must be done and who are ready and willing to take on the climate sceptics.
The Guardian recently reported on a lifesize herd of puppet animals that has begun a climate action journey from Africa to the Arctic Circle.
The ‘Herds project’ will travel 20,000km taking its message on environmental crisis across the world and the creators are the same team behind ‘Little Amal’.
So, there is much to do, but there is also hope.
And if this has inspired you to play your part, then I hope you will pass this blog on to someone who can also be encouraged to join the climate change gang!
Russell Jones is content and communications manager and curator of The Hub
