Not surprisingly, leadership contenders Rishi Sunka and Liz Truss have suspended normal service, and some may argue, sense – and have resorted to headline-grabbing, vote-garnishing policies that play to the Conservative gallery. Much of this will likely be watered down or simply forgotten when the reality of actual Government hits home.
When it comes to climate change, you could hardly call either candidate an eco-warrior. And the very fact that the recent leadership debates devoted less than two minutes to the issue, speaks volumes. Even if they weren’t asked the question, they could have brought the subject into the conversation – but they didn’t.
Sunak, apparently, relies on his daughters for advice on climate change. But thinks we should all reduce our energy use and recycle – although he admits that’s a bit of a pain since you need lots of bins.
Liz Truss says she’s committed to reaching net zero by 2050 – but for now she’s focusing on the cost-of-living and tax cuts. Which is a bit ironic when soaring energy bills are directly to blame for the cost-of-living crisis, and will cripple many households this winter.
No immediate climate change policy will make a difference to energy bills this winter, but it certainly will in the future. Kicking climate change, and specifically decarbonisation, into the long grass is not only short-sighted and foolish, it is dangerous.
As an industry we need to continue to hold the Government’s feet to the fire – or rather the heat pump – so that sustainability and decarbonisation don’t become issues to be dealt with when ‘the good times’ return. Who knows when that will be, but whenever it is it will defiantly be too late.
Too much time, money and investment has been made. Our industry has been encouraged to step up, to develop sustainable solutions and to be at the forefront of the net zero journey. We are already on the road, and we need to make it very clear to this and any future Government that “this industry’s not for turning”.
Eoin McManus is CEO of Lyrical Communications
