Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has emphasized the Labour government’s commitment to achieving net zero, criticizing the Conservatives and Reform for their lack of action on the climate crisis. He stated that the government is “absolutely up for the fight” and accused the opposition parties of deserting and betraying future generations by not addressing the climate emergency.
Miliband’s statement comes after a tumultuous week for Labour, during which the party faced accusations of abandoning its values by reducing disability benefits. In response, the energy secretary focused on Labour’s plans for the green energy transition, announcing the first major project for publicly owned Great British Energy (GBE). This project will provide funding for solar panels on the roofs of schools and hospitals, aiming to save millions of pounds on energy bills and reinvest the funds in frontline services. Additionally, the £200 million investment will support local clean power projects, such as community-owned onshore wind and rooftop solar.
Despite some skepticism within the government regarding its commitment to the green agenda, Miliband assured that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are fully behind the plan. He dismissed concerns that the government may abandon funding and targets under political pressure, emphasizing the importance of the agenda for economic growth, energy security, and the climate.
In contrast, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has expressed doubts about the feasibility of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 without sacrificing living standards or bankrupting the country. Reform UK will also focus on battles over local energy infrastructure, such as windfarms and solar panels, during its local election campaign.
Miliband rejected these claims, stating that the majority of people in the UK support the net zero agenda. He argued that the transition to renewable energy is crucial for energy security and job creation, and that the worst impact on living standards has resulted from dependence on volatile fossil fuels. He accused the Tories and Reform of offering anti-jobs and anti-future generations policies.
A YouGov poll conducted after Badenoch’s speech revealed that 61% of people support the government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, while 24% oppose it and 15% are unsure.
Miliband highlighted the global momentum behind the net zero agenda, citing examples from countries like China and India. He expressed confidence that other nations will continue pursuing the transition, regardless of any potential obstacles.
GBE’s funding will be used to install solar panels on 200 schools in England and 200 NHS sites, with estimated lifetime savings of up to £400 million over 30 years. The projects are expected to be completed by the summer. Relying on technology such as batteries, these solar panels could help schools and NHS sites save £25,000 and £45,000 per year, respectively. The funding will primarily target schools in deprived areas, with at least 10 schools in each region receiving support.
Jess Ralston, an analyst at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, acknowledges that the investment is a positive step after decades of underinvestment. However, she suggests that more needs to be done to improve energy efficiency and wean the UK off foreign gas imports, which would help stabilize energy bills in the future.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/21/government-absolutely-up-for-the-fight-over-net-zero-ed-miliband-says
