Shadow Energy Secretary Criticizes UK Net Zero Targets Impact

The UK’s shadow energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, has expressed significant concerns regarding the Labour Party’s net zero targets, stating that they are detrimental to the nation’s economy. In an interview with Sky News host Trevor Phillips, Coutinho linked these climate targets to the ongoing cost of living crisis, asserting, “We’ve said we would repeal the climate change target, and we actually think the net zero targets are a problem.”

Coutinho’s remarks come in the wake of a pledge from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to abolish the Climate Change Act, which was established to provide a framework for reducing emissions to net zero by 2050 and to help the UK adapt to climate impacts. Coutinho argued that the current targets are driving up electricity costs and pushing jobs overseas, which she believes ultimately exacerbates global climate emissions. She stated, “Every time a business leaves here for a country powered by coal, you’re worsening climate emissions… net zero targets at this point are not helping climate change, the economy, or cost of living for households.”

While she acknowledged the importance of training young people in the energy sector, Coutinho questioned whether the anticipated 400,000 new jobs would be solely in clean energy. She remarked, “I think in this case, he [Ed Miliband] is going to include welders and electricians and plumbers, which we need in the economy anyway.” Coutinho also criticized the energy secretary’s approach, claiming it would lead to Britain being committed to the “highest offshore wind prices that we’ve seen in a decade,” consequently driving up energy costs for consumers.

Concerns Over Reliance on China

When discussing the UK’s green energy supply chain, Coutinho raised alarms about the heavy reliance on China, particularly in the production of wind and solar power components. In 2024, approximately 68 percent of solar panels imported to the UK are expected to come from China, an increase from 61 percent the previous year. Coutinho emphasized the need for caution, stating, “We cannot have a reliance on our energy system for products that can only be made in China.” This dependency has led to growing concerns over supply chain security and has sparked initiatives like Great British Energy to enhance domestic energy capabilities.

In a later interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Coutinho did not specify a timeline for when a Conservative government would aim to achieve net zero. Addressing the party’s climate policy, she remarked, “I think caring about pollution is important, but at the moment, the targets are actually pulling you in the wrong direction.” She added that effective decarbonization requires encouraging the use of electric products across various sectors, stating, “If you want to decarbonise, the thing you have to do is get people to use electric products, cars, home heating, industry, to electrify their machinery.”

The ongoing debate over the UK’s net zero targets highlights the complex intersection between climate policy and economic realities, as political leaders navigate the challenges posed by both environmental responsibilities and immediate economic pressures.