Moving Towards a Sustainable UK in an Environment of Austerity: Can We Wait Until the Midnight Hour?

The UK coalition government, elected in May 2010, has set out its stall to be, in the words of Prime Minister, David Cameron, “the greenest government ever”. To that end it has embarked on an ambitious programme of policy initiatives to address climate change and the wider sustainability agenda. These include: • Initiating a fundamental review of waste policy with a view to adopting a zero waste to landfill and increasing Energy from Waste (EfW) as a solution for residual wastes; • Leading calls within the European Union for an increase in pan-Europe greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy targets for 2020, that, if adopted would have a profound and immediate impact on domestic targets; and • An electricity market reform package that will see the introduction of a floor price for carbon (in effect, a carbon tax) and new financial support mechanisms for the development of renewable energy.