Budget 2020: 'Expectations not matched by reality' when it comes to climate change
There were a number of eye-catching announcements, but climate economists say not enough has been done.
Wednesday 11 March 2020 18:50, UK
The budget failed to deliver on enough green promises if Britain is to fulfil its own commitments on climate change.
There were a number of eye catching announcements such as a plastic packaging tax and planting a forest bigger than Birmingham that will connect with people and send a green message.
The government has also made its highest financial commitment in 40 years towards research and development.
But climate economists say not enough has been done to transition to a low carbon economy and fulfil long-term goals.
Dimitri Zenghelis said: "Expectations have not been matched by budget reality.
"The measures are clearly insufficient to transition the economy on the scale necessary and to which the government has committed itself.
"The support for research and development may well end up as the greenest measure in this budget.
"There are very few innovators who are looking at the high carbon technologies - it's about forward looking and making the economy fit for a future that will be low carbon.
"The politics of change is always tough.
"But the economics says it's a fast-changing world and if you don't invest in a flexible economy with a suitably skilled and flexible workforce that can transition in the face of change then you won't solve the productivity problem."
After a recent collapse in oil prices, some will have seen the lack of a rise in fuel duty as a missed open goal in not tackling carbon emissions generated from road use, and a signal of the government's true priorities.
Road transport is responsible for 91% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions - and fuel duty has been frozen since 2010.
A total of £27bn is being spent on strategic roads and motorways with £2.5bn on potholes.
But there were no specific mentions of spending on railways or on more sustainable housing.
£500m for rapid charging hubs - never more than 30 miles from a hub.
Industry, energy and business emissions have all fallen over the last decade but transport emissions have only dropped 3% since the 1990s, meaning environmentalists were really hoping the budget would do much more to tackle the issue.
The government also outlined plans to raise the Climate Change Levy on gas in 2022, whilst freezing the rate on electricity, to encourage businesses to become greener.
There was no mention of a change in domestic gas or electricity prices.