Today the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced what could be the final budget from the current Tory Government.

Despite a growing public appetite for action on climate change, there was nothing new in this budget to support the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

When this Government talks about clean energy, it is mistakenly fixated on nuclear power, which as we know has a monumental carbon footprint in its construction, costs £billions to build and takes decades to develop – time we simply don’t have in a climate emergency.

In addition to pouring money into nuclear vanity projects, Hunt also allocates further millions towards Carbon Capture and Storage projects – an infant technology which promotes inaction and delay on climate change mitigation. 

Now is not the time for hesitation. 

We need bold, radical solutions. 

Delaying action will only exacerbate the problem, as emphasized by the London School of Economics’ policy brief from May 2022. The benefits of transitioning to net-zero are clear, outweighing the costs and bringing additional economic and health advantages.

If politicians falter in taking the long view, history shows that grassroots movements can drive meaningful change. Organisations like the Chartist Movement and the Women’s Liberation Movement and have demonstrated the power of people to change history. 

When it comes to climate, we believe that community energy groups are the modern-day equivalent of these change-making pioneers.

The UK is home to a vibrant and dynamic community energy sector which works hard every day to reshape the way people own and use energy. We believe that we are on the right side of history, and are paving the way for a fair and equitable energy system where where local renewable sources deliver community owned heat and power that everyone can afford. 

When Government shows such low ambition for meaningful climate action, its time for communities to take action themselves. 

We urge you to join and support your local community energy groups in whatever way you can. 

In Brighton and Hove, BHESCo are currently raising funds through a community bond offer to install solar power on five local schools as well as a leisure centre, and industrial estate, and a business park. If you have the means to support our bond offer by investing, then we would be delighted to welcome you to our people-powered energy community. 

As the 2024 Spring Budget has made clear yet again, the policy makers in Whitehall will not save us from climate catastrophe or deliver home grown, affordable heat and power. It is up to us, the people, to bring about the change our planet needs.


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