Naturally Unnatural Issue #7 6th June 2017

Issue #7, 6th June 2017 The UK needs more than just a foundation of environmentally friendly policies By Matthew Clifton The UK needs to step up when it comes to energy, environment and climate change. With Donald Trump pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement and saying he wants to negotiate a better deal for the US, the UK needs to step-up post Brexit and say, “we will commit to measures that will ensure our planets survival for years to come” along with a clear and coherent plan on how to do this. Unfortunately, only one major par- ty is taking the threat of climate change and environmentalism seriously, the Labour party. Theresa May and the Conservatives have been somewhat evasive on the issue and haven’t offered much in the way of pro- gress. They have also failed fundamental- ly when in government this year over warnings about air pollution. The £600 million into zero- emission vehi- cles are simply not enough to encourage innovation. The litter problem isn’t a soci- etal one, it is companies who have created blame onto ordinary people, so that they don’t have to invest as much into creating better and more environmentally friendly packaging. They have also said that they will no long- er pursue the ban on ivory despite them stating as a government, they were com- mitted to that policy and after previously contacting them before the general elec- tion they ‘confirmed’ they were commit- ted but failed to reply to our question ask- ing if they were going to pursue a ban oth- er than the one proposed in 2015. There is a very little mention on their sustainable energy policy apart from what we already know with fracking and nuclear being their preferences. proved through a bottle deposit scheme on a scale we need to. Whilst the manifes- to states they will work with manufactur- ers, they need to clamp down hard on them. Labour will invest more into sustain- able energy and other avenues that will lead to a more sustainable future. They also plan to introduce a complete ban on ivory. Publicly underrated is- sues Both parties have more details on what their plans are and this is a brief analysis, however, just as an overview only Labour The Conser vatives really offer a foundation of something pro- gressive but it still lacks in dealing with A 25-year Environment Plan which in- cludes Blue Belt for marine protection, some issues that we face. Whilst the ivory every vehicle to be zero-emissions by trade ban from Labour is a start, environ- 2050, with £600 million investment to mental crime is a global issue and we achieve this and action against litter pro- need to face the fact that it costs the global gramme with comprehensive rubbish and economy an estimated 91-258 billion USD recycling collection plus support of better Labour per year, this places it as the fourth larg- packaging. est criminal activity in the world behind A ban on fracking, a new clean air act, The policies don’t sound too bad howev- plastic bottle deposit scheme and reduc- drug trafﬁcking (344 billion USD), coun- er, the 25-year plan would be a fantastic tions in food waste, along with prioritising terfeit crimes (288 billion USD) and human idea if the plan itself would be plausible, trafﬁcking (157 billion USD). But this also sustainable farming, food and fishing but a Blue Belt for marine protection will has a more profound effect, that it damag- through investment into technology and be difficult and it will open all sorts of con- es the global eco-systems that we rely on innovation and the promotion of cruelty- stitutional issues when negotiating with for the foundations of development, free animal husbandry. the EU over sea territory. The issue with health, food securities and economies. A ban on fracking is good along with the marine life, is that it doesn’t have the Ecosystems provide clean water, air and a same climatic barriers as land-based ani- new clean air act however, the same issue supply of food which impacts physical and of tackling the issue of large companies mals and they have no restrictions on mental wellbeing. producing waste plastic will not be im- where they can migrate to. Continued on page 7... 6

Naturally Unnatural Issue #7 6th June 2017 | Page 6