- With a landslide victory in the 2024 General Election, Labour has won a super strong mandate for ambitious climate action and green investment.
- Labour pledges include a clean power system by 2030, setting up Great British Energy and a National Wealth Fund to help decarbonise industry and building an international Clean Power Alliance.
- Rishi Sunak’s decision to delay & weaken climate policies was a massive strategic blunder which helped make the Conservative Party unelectable.
Watch
Quotes
Ed Matthew, Campaigns Director at E3G said:
“Dependence on oil and gas has driven the cost-of-living crisis. By delaying and damaging the clean energy policies that could cut energy bills, Rishi Sunak pitched the Conservatives against every UK household. It was a catastrophic political blunder. The Labour election landslide means Keir Starmer now has a historic public mandate to accelerate climate action, invest in the industries of the future and restore UK climate leadership. The UK is back in the race to net zero.”
Juliet Phillips, Programme Lead for Energy Transition at E3G said:
“The public has just provided an enormous climate vote of confidence behind Labour’s ambitious policies – including for clean power by 2030, to end domestic production of oil and gas, and to set out an expansive Warm Homes Plan to fix our leaky homes. Policy delays and derailments under the Conservatives have set the UK back, but our climate and fuel poverty targets can remain in reach with the right measures and investment behind them.”
Heather McKay, Senior Policy Advisor in Sustainable Finance at E3G said:
“Britons across the country are today waking up to a new government – one which holds their future in its hands. When it comes to UK growth, and our lagging investment environment, Prime Minister Starmer has a choice: go bold or go bust. By setting out a clear plan to invest in the UK’s biggest economic opportunity – net zero – Starmer can show that the first Labour government in 14 years means business.”
Harry Camilleri, Researcher in Geopolitics at E3G said:
“‘With political uncertainty mounting in the US and EU, Keir Starmer needs to show that Britain is back and ready to lead the global fight against climate change. In its first 100 days, the new government can champion reforms to the global financial system, build a broad-based clean power alliance and lay the groundwork for an ambitious climate transition plan (NDC).”
Laith Kharus Whitwham, Senior Policy Advisor in Industry and Carbon Capture at E3G said:
“Today’s historic election result has provided a clear mandate for bold climate action. In their manifesto, Labour made a clear commitment to bring UK industry into a new era, investing in the low carbon technologies of tomorrow. Now they’re in power, Labour need to act swiftly and decisively, laying down the funding and policies to turn that commitment into a reality.”
Manon Dufour, Executive Director, E3G Brussels said:
“Rishi Sunak’s decision to delay and weaken climate policies was a strategic blunder, rendering the Conservative Party unelectable. Rolling back on agreed policies was a gamble that voters and businesses did not take casually.
The EU and its member states should note: the UK is back in the race to net zero. The new Labour government is committed to a clean power system by 2030, an industry decarbonisation fund, and renewed international climate leadership. These commitments are also on the table for the EU, as Commission President nominee von der Leyen prepares to present its political priorities to the European Parliament.”
Available for comment
E3G is following the election closely and will be available to comment in the following areas:
Ed Matthew – E3G Campaigns Director
Energy and climate across UK politics and policy
+44 7827 157 906, ed.matthew@e3g.org
Heather McKay – Senior Policy Advisor, Sustainable Finance
UK sustainable finance, UK Net Zero Investment Plan
+44 7955 597676, heather.mckay@e3g.org
Juliet Phillips – Programme Lead, Energy Transition
UK energy, housing, clean heat, power, industry and oil and gas
+44 7548 097 061, juliet.phillips@e3g.org
Susanna Elks – Senior Policy Advisor, Power Sector Transition
UK power decarbonisation, electricity, market design, consumer impact, energy system governance
+44 7577 110 942, Susanna.Elks@e3g.org
Beth Walker – Senior Policy Advisor, Oil and Gas
UK fossil fuel phase out (oil and gas) and international energy diplomacy
+44 7827 968038, beth.walker@e3g.org
Laith Whitwham – Senior Policy Advisor, Industry and Carbon Capture
UK industrial transition and CCS, decarbonising steel, cement and carbon-intensive manufacturing generally
+44 7808 045786, Laith.whitwham@e3g.org
For enquiries email press@e3g.org or phone +44 (0)7783 787 863 or contact one of our experts directly.
Notes to Editors
- E3G is an independent climate change think tank with a global outlook. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape, tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics and policies into action. About – E3G
- For further enquiries email press@e3g.org or phone +44 (0)7783 787 863
