Question: What do you think about the "changes" that the government has put in place to stop climate change like: low emission zones, renewable and low carbon energy technologies ,decentralized energy and heating ,promoting low carbon design approaches to reduce energy consumption in buildings, such as passive solar design, funding, regulating and in some cases directly providing public services?

Octavia Brayley answered on 7 Nov 2023:

I don’t think they’re good enough. Although the government has made some changes, they have also delayed some really important green issues. For example, new cars with combustion engines were due to be banned from sale by 2030. This has been pushed back to 2035, with the government claiming it will save consumers money. Rishi Sunak said by 2030 he expected “the vast majority” of cars sold would be electric, because they are getting cheaper, and people are buying more, but that people should make that decision themselves – not the government. This is the same for other things like boilers and insulation. In my opinion, there need to be a lot more financial incentives for people to make lifestyle changes…we’re in a cost of living crisis so most of us cannot afford to buy an electric car for example. Governments are generally afraid to suggest things to people as well- such as using transport less or eating less red meat (agriculture is one of the top three contributors to greenhouse emissions). Governments need to utilise their scientific advisors more and actually encourage people to make changes whilst providing incentives for them to do so. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the whole world, and our government, in my opinion, is definitely not doing enough!