The British Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer emerged victorious in the United Kingdom elections after results were declared on July 5, 2024. As Starmer takes over as the UK’s first Labour Prime Minister in 14 years, after Gordon Brown in 2010, experts have called on him to deliver on climate change.
Writing in Recharge, a portal that provides news and analysis on renewable energy industries, journalist Cosmo Sanderson wrote that Keir Starmer “was stepping into 10 Downing Street as the UK’s new Prime Minister having made bold promises to double onshore wind, treble solar and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, by which time it wants to kick fossil fuels off the grid entirely”.
Fiona Harvey, environment editor of The Guardian noted in a piece that with the British Green Party quadrupling its representation in parliament and Labour scoring victory by a wide margin, Starmer had been given strong mandate to take bold action on net zero and nature, according to experts and campaigners.
Starmer’s predecessor, Britain’s first Asian prime minister, Rishi Sunak came in for a lot of criticism, with climate experts stating that he and the Tories had set the country backwards as far as climate action was concerned.
The UK chapter on non-profit Greenpeace wrote wittily on its X handle: “Rishi Sunak’s anti-green agenda was as popular with voters as a root canal. This is the power of the climate vote.”
Sanderson added that Starmer’s (climate) ambition stood in stark contrast to Sunak, who had “repeatedly rolled back on green goals while greenlighting new fossil fuel generation in what appeared to be a failed and misguided bid to improve his popularity”.
This had damaged the UK’s energy transition and energy security in the process, added Sanderson.
Sunita Narain, director-general, Centre for Science and Environment, agreed. “Sunak and the Conservatives had gone backward on a lot of things in the context of climate change. Hopefully, climate change will now be back in focus,” she said.
Commentators have called on Starmer to fulfil the mandate he has been given vis-a-vis climate.
“Keir Starmer must now show real leadership on climate and nature — at home and abroad — showing that the green transition can be fair and equitable,” Greenpeace wrote in another post on X.
Heather McKay, senior policy advisor in sustainable finance at independent climate change think tank E3G, said in a statement: “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.”
Media discourse has also noted the start differences between Britain and Europe. The island is separated from the Continent by the English Channel.
Just across the Channel, France has been holding its own elections where the right wing, National Rally under Marine LePen had scored early victories. The rest of the Continent, in the throes of a tumult, especially over immigration, too has been electing right and far right groups into power.
With Britain electing a centre-left party, observers have been quick to take note.
“Congratulations Sir @Keir_Starmer on your victory. Pleased with our first discussion. We will continue the work begun with the UK for our bilateral cooperation, for peace and security in Europe, for the climate and for AI,” Emmanuel Macron, the French president, posted on his X handle.
Manon Dufour, executive director, E3G Brussels, said: “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.”
“Unlike Europe’s move towards the right, a Labour government in No 10 would mean more action on climate change. However, it is still early days. The UK faces headwinds such as the economy and immigration. It remains to be seen how climate change will fit into the equation,” said Narain.
"As Europe shifts towards the political right, the UK's election results signal a promising turn for progressive climate policies. The new Labour government must not only champion phasing out fossil fuels and robust climate action at home but also lead on the global stage by providing essential financial and technological support to developing nations. This support is crucial for enabling equitable and effective climate action and fostering international collaboration," Harjeet Singh, climate activist and Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, told Down To Earth.
"After years of the UK’s regressive policies accelerating oil and gas expansion, the world will be closely scrutinising every move of the new Labour government to see how it fulfils its promises and exemplifies true climate leadership," Singh added.