Is Ed Miliband a safe pair of hands for the Net Zero goals?

Appointment of Ed Miliband for Energy Security and Net Zero

Under the newly appointed prime minister, Keir Starmer, Ed Miliband has been confirmed as the new secretary of state for energy security and net zero. Miliband previously held this role within Brown’s government, under which he oversaw the passing of the Climate Change Act (2008) which set the foundations for the UK’s statutory obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by the year 2050.

During Labour’s opposition, Miliband remained staunchly committed to climate change action, and was one of the leading supporters of the Green Prosperity Plan to invest into green industries. The green pledge by Labour was recently scaled-back, with reduced funding cited as a result of the economic fallout under the previous government.

History of Ed Miliband’s political journey

Born into a political family, Miliband joined the Labour party alongside his brother, David, in the early 1990s. In 2007, Gordon Brown appointed Ed, who had previously worked as his advisor, as Cabinet Office Minister, and later as the Secretary for Energy and Climate Change.

During this period, Miliband re-shaped government policy on coal-fired power stations. Under this change, any new coal-fired power stations would only receive government consent if they could capture 25% of the emissions they produced immediately. According to a government source quoted in the Guardian, the move represented a “complete rewrite of UK energy policy for the future”.

Miliband later went face-to-face against his brother for leadership after Gordon Brown’s election defeat in 2010 to Lord Cameron. Successful in his attempts, he was appointed leader of the opposition during the Tory-Lib Dem coalition, and remained fiercely critical of the government’s austerity measures.

After his election defeat, Miliband remained passionate about climate change as a backbencher, indicating his favour of the 2015 Paris climate change agreement, in which he called for a goal of net zero emissions in the second half of the century. He further stated that the issue of tackling climate change is “not just a global responsibility”, but, “an economic necessity”.

Challenges of net zero targets

The UK has seen some success with cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but there are concerns over whether the government may miss its future targets. The independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) criticised government efforts as “worryingly slow”. Responding to the critical report, the previous Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart, stressed that “there is no button I can press tomorrow”, and that the UK would remain dependent on fossil fuels for the foreseeable future.

What is at stake for the UK?

In their report, the CCC urged that more action was required to drive carbon neutrality, such as more encouragement to stall heat pumps and provide better insulation for our properties. Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 46% from the levels in 1990, with the CCC attributing this to growth in renewable power and reduced dependence on coal and electricity.

Alok Sharma, the chair of the COP26 summit argued that the UK risked losing its “international reputation and influence on climate”. Evidently, there is a lot at stake, as the Labour government faces challenges to maintain the nation's status as a world leader in climate change. Miliband will certainly encounter obstacles in his role, yet this is a challenge he appears to be willing to conquer.

Commenting on the appointment, Nazar Soofi, Head of Sustainability and Decarbonisation at Eddisons stated:

“I am incredibly hopeful about Ed Miliband's appointment as Energy Secretary. His unwavering commitment to environmental issues and sustainable development is exactly what we need to provide a much-needed boost to the climate agenda. Ed's drive and vision for a green future promise to advance our initiatives significantly, attracting substantial investment in renewable energy and driving forward our commitment to combating climate change. Looking forward to seeing the positive changes his leadership will bring!”

Support for decarbonisation to achieve your net zero goals

We are facing a critical period to build a greener future for future generations. At Eddisons, net zero is at the heart of our decarbonisation services. If you may require assistance with achieving public sector decarbonisation, are seeking ways to make your building more energy efficient, or require funding to install solar panels, contact our team today to find out how we can support you with your sustainability goals.