• Over recent years devolution has slowed, while progress towards net zero has simultaneously failed to meet expectations

• A smaller-scale, more granular approach towards energy policy is vital to accelerate the nation's progress to net-zero

• Case studies such as the actions of the Leeds City Council (LCC) show such an approach is feasible and effective

• Investment in sustainable public transport is shown as an effective method of reducing emissions and modernising cities

Without further devolution, the UK’s net-zero goals will be near impossible to reach

New research from Leeds Policy Institute (LPI) finds that the current policy of the UK government is insufficient to reach net-zero targets. It provides an analysis of in what ways the policies have worked and failed. Following this, a devolution-based solution is proposed to tackle the net-zero goal.

“Infrastructure is underfunded and oversubscribed, and existing logistical issues are crippling carbon-neutral efforts. There is limited technology to supply charging electricity to homes with no driveway due to indecisive government funding allocations, and a lack of maintenance skills in the sector as an estimated additional 35,000 skilled workers are needed to support the expansion of EV infrastructure by 2030”

The paper also provides insight into how regulation has failed the renewable energy sector, especially within offshore wind, while providing solutions for how to address these issues through a focus on sustainable devolved transport infrastructure.

“The UK economy possesses immense potential for growth through carbon neutrality, and as such, if opportunities are taken, then the comparative advantages will have widespread benefits. While we have identified the unregulated offshore wind industry as a risk to government environmental efforts, we can also see this as a clear-cut opportunity to create domestic manufacturing supply chains and associated jobs,” the report states. 

LPI’s Energy & Environment paper author, Euan Taylor, said:

“Issues surrounding the energy and environmental policy are more prevalent than ever, and with the nations of the UK showing uncertainty regarding meeting statutory goals to achieve net zero (particularly in England and Scotland), other policies need to be considered and capitalised upon to make this a reality."

“The opportunities the UK has in the wind sector, as well as to capitalise on its own EV market share are monumental and must be realised as we fight to save our Earth's Climate."

“This is no longer an emergency that should be merely amongst government agenda, but be the forefront of policy and we should take note of our European and further Western counterparts to collaborate and protect our planet in every way possible”

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Notes to Editors

• ‘An Investigation and Policy Recommendation on How the UK National Government and Local Authorities Will Transition to Net-Zero’’ is the first paper to be published by Leeds Policy Institute’s Energy & Environment division.

• We write our paper at a time when government delays in net-zero policy threaten the eventual goal of sustainable domestic policy when new measures can and must be taken.

• With policy previously being relatively aimless, more targeted policies such as the capitalisation upon the domestic EV industry are very important

CONTACT: thinktank@luu.group / 07895 958710

A full copy of ‘An Investigation and Policy Recommendation on How the UK National Government and Local Authorities Will Transition to Net-Zero’, can be read here.

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About Leeds Policy Institute

Leeds Policy Institute (LPI) is a UK-based and student-led Think Tank affiliated with Leeds University Union (a registered UK charity). It is dedicated to undertaking empirically driven and non-partisan policy research that centres on both local and national issues. 

Our 6 Policy Areas for 2024 are: 

• Macro Policy 

• Energy and Environment

• Urban Planning and Transport 

• Social Policy 

• Market Interventions 

• Financial Regulation 

Established in April 2023, the Leeds Policy Institute (LPI) endeavours to facilitate the engagement of young individuals in ongoing policy dialogues. Through initiatives encompassing funding for informative speaker engagements, publication of student-authored articles, and collaborative delivery of skill-enhancing workshops in conjunction with the university, LPI seeks to empower its student members and contribute to the betterment of society.