| As you read this, the Government is writing the rules for the UK economy, post-Brexit. As we leave the EU carbon-pricing scheme (the ETS), this is an unprecedented moment to push for Carbon Fee & Dividend (the official term for Climate Income). |
| Choose your Action – or more than 1! 1) Write to your MP Point out that leaving the EU ETS offers the chance to shift to a simpler, more effective, fairer and less costly method of carbon-pricing: Carbon Fee & Dividend. Emphasize that, unlike the ETS, CF&D will include the whole economy, provide a clear and predictable signal to industry, maximize public support, and shelter those on low incomes. You can also mention that CCL EU has established that, if necessary during a transition period, CF&D can operate alongside a UK ETS. Ask for your letter to be forwarded to the ministers of the all the relevant departments: Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for BEIS (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), George Eustace, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rishi Sunak, Chancelor of the Exchequer. Remind your MP that the Government has accepted that CF&D is a good idea, as do 27 Nobel-prize-winning economists https://www.econstatement.org. Ask for a response, stressing the urgent need for a green recovery that will benefit the whole economy and secure our future. 2) Meet your MP If at all possible, meet your MP to show the strength of your concern, (offer a Skype or Zoom meeting). 3) Write to the media Publicise as widely as possible that the government has already, in response to its own consultation, recognised the merit of CF&D – yet went on to say without explanation, that it was not proposing to adopt it. Local publications are particularly important to your MP; national publications can influence wider public opinion 4) Spread the word Do you know anyone – especially someone in a different constituency – who might be persuaded to write their own MP, on a subject of such urgency? Please copy any responses or published media to [email protected] |
| Many thanks,Ed, Gina, Louisa and Paul CCL UK steering committee citizensclimatelobby.uk |
| BACKGROUND TO THIS CAMPAIGN The ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme) is a Cap & Trade system: the Government gives permits to certain industries that limit the amount of carbon they can emit (the Cap) and they trade these permits among themselves. It has been heavily criticized as being unfair, inadequate and over-complicated. For more information on carbon pricing systems, including a handy table of comparisons, see https://citizensclimatelobby.uk/2019/05/carbon-pricing-be-careful-what-you-ask-for/ Our Government in its recent Response to the Consultation on the Future of Carbon Pricing acknowledges the merits of CF&D but does not propose to adopt it at this time, preferring to continue with a UK ETS, an emissions reduction policy modelled after the EU ETS, despite acknowledging that: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/889037/Government_Response_to_Consultation_on_Future_of_UK_Carbon_Pricing.pdf Scroll to p.38 and 39 Para 201: UK Government’s and Devolved Administrations’ response201.The preferred approach, expressed by the UK Government and Devolved Administrations in the consultation document and supported by scheme participants, is for an effective emissions reduction tool. Placing a price on carbon creates the incentive for emissions to be reduced in a cost effective and technology-neutral way, while mobilising the private sector to invest in emissions reduction technologies and measures. While we recognise the merits of a Carbon Fee and Dividend policy, we do not propose to adopt it at this time |
| Background to Climate Fee and Dividend |
| What is carbon fee and dividend? Look at the website page citizensclimatelobby.uk/policy-makers. A fee is placed on fossil fuels as they are extracted, or enter the UK. This rises each year until it is high enough to make burning fossil fuels uneconomical. The money collected is given back as a climate income equally to UK people; all adults receive the same amount, half for children.When fossil fuels are exported by UK businesses the fee is rebated. Countries with a similar carbon fee importing fossil fuels into the UK will not have to pay the UK fee. How does carbon fee and dividend/climate income work?It makes fossil fuels uneconomical and so removes their use.It supports UK household incomes (between two thirds and four fifths of households) and vulnerable people by giving them a financial cushion during the transition to clean energy.It supports business by allowing them to plan for the change to clean energy and stimulates investment in clean energy. |
