Communicating Labour’s Environmental Policy: Taking the lead ahead of COP26
As we approach the postponed COP26 climate summit, now due to be held in Glasgow this November, the climate crisis should be at the top of the political agenda and dominating cultural conversations. Instead, the pandemic has shifted the narrative – it is Labour’s responsibility to show leadership in communicating forward-thinking environmental policy and make sure that protecting our planet from climate breakdown is at the forefront of voters’ minds.
We must increase the urgency with which we communicate around the climate crisis and use clear, targeted messaging to gain public buy-in and confidence that the best way to bounce back from COVID-19 is through a green recovery.
Although the electorate’s priorities have undoubtedly shifted during COVID-19, there is still widespread support for tackling the climate crisis. This reflects the sentiments highlighted in Climate Outreach and Cardiff University’s 2019 survey where climate change was ranked the second most important issue facing the UK – up from 13th place in 2016. Similarly, Copper Consultancy’s 2019 Attitudes to Net Zero research identified high levels of public support for the UK’s net zero target, and found that 64% of people do not believe that the UK is doing enough to reach net zero by 2050.
The public want to see forward-thinking ambitious green policies to get us there – but instead the pandemic has led to short-term and disjointed thinking.
Exposing rhetoric vs action
The UK is falling behind when compared to developed countries around the world that have been using their coronavirus stimulus spending to target climate breakdown. Germany has already pledged €40billion, France at least €30 billion, and US President-Elect Joe Biden has committed to $2 trillion over four years to fighting climate change.
In contrast, the UK Conservative Government continues to delay the landmark Environment Bill and seemed to originally back a new coal mine in Cumbria in what felt like a 70s/80s throwback. COP26 is therefore forcing the government’s hand to do more in addressing climate change, exemplified by the recent industrial decarbonisation strategy and consultation on the draft policy statement on environmental principles. Yet all too often the language of green recovery is unmatched by the reality.
We cannot build back better by moving backwards to fossil fuels rather than towards clean energy infrastructure investment. Such inconsistency undermines credibility and public trust in the government’s climate ambitions. Labour can fill in the gaps here by holding the government to account to keep us on track ahead of COP26 in this ‘make-or-break year’ for climate action.
Switching up the messaging
Labour can promote the fantastic work carried out by Labour councils at a local level in cities like Liverpool and Oxford to help reach net zero by 2040, mobilising plans for a zero emissions fleet of hydrogen buses and city-wide air pollution targets. By leveraging the success of the activity already happening on the ground, Labour can win over the public by proving the party is willing to take action that can be implemented even more effectively in power.
Ongoing research for the Fabian Society’s ‘Talking Green’ project focuses on how some of the language we use to talk about climate-related and environmental issues, i.e. terms like green industrial revolution and green new deal, isn’t resonating with key voter groups other than those already convinced. To cut through, Labour needs to show voters the party understands what our communities need and connect with them through a compelling narrative focused on local issues.
Putting jobs first
Jobs must be at the centre of this narrative. Applying lessons learnt from the mistakes of deindustrialisation across the 80s, Labour can make clear to voters the party is willing to do things differently to address the dual challenges of the pandemic and the climate crisis through a credible, jobs-rich green recovery.
Communities must feel like they are at the heart of a sustainable, prosperous future that is better for our planet. Ed Miliband’s support for green jobs and beleaguered industries like steel to help them decarbonise is positioning Labour exactly where the party should be. Nevertheless, Labour needs to continue working even harder to convince parts of the public that they will benefit from low-carbon employment opportunities.
An economic recovery must work for everyone and Labour must communicate its vision, outlined in its 2020 plan for a Green Economic Recovery, with clarity, particularly to former ‘red wall’ areas and seats like Hartlepool ahead of the upcoming by-election. People need to be confident that a Labour government could responsibly execute a just transition focused around creating new green jobs and investment in low carbon infrastructure.
Protecting public health
Similarly, if Labour can successfully articulate the interconnection between the case for climate action, agreen economic stimulus and public health, the party can demonstrate engagement with and understanding of the issues that concern voters most. Airborne particulate matter and other forms of air pollution, worsened by diesel and petrol vehicles, are closely tied to respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Some studies have suggested that these medical issues can be exacerbated further by COVID-19. Labour need to take the lead in raising awareness of air pollution that is already killing people, and as Keir Starmer recently said needs to be ‘front-page news’, to highlight the direct impact of the climate crisis on our everyday lives.
Climate conversations
Britain Talks Climate’s segmentation research indicates that although the public is fractured, climate change is emerging as an issue that has the potential to unite us, particularly in a pandemic where inequality has continued to widen. Looking ahead into the immediate future towards local elections and the Queen’s Speech, now is the time for Labour to apply stronger pressure to keep the climate emergency at the top of both the political and voters’ respective agendas.
Laura Cunliffe-Hall
Copper Consultancy