Research Projects

A fair climate? Creating a socially just response to climate change

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Contact Email: j.bird@ippr.org

Introduction

The next two years will be a crucial time for climate change policy as the government develops its policy framework for meeting the emission reduction targets set out in the Climate Change Bill. At the same time, the government has clear social policy objectives, including challenging targets on fuel poverty, child poverty and employment. Rising fuel prices and economic uncertainty are increasing the pressure on the Government to tackle these problems.

To date, there has been no comprehensive overview of the potential synergies and conflicts between the climate change and poverty reduction agendas. Yet tensions between them could lead to inaction or negative outcomes – including a serious backlash against climate policies. For example, fuel poverty is an increasing concern in the UK yet there is a danger that policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through increasing direct energy costs could make it even worse. It is clear that it will not be politically sustainable to implement unfair green policies.

Our Fair Climate theme of work will make a timely and necessary intervention by considering how we can bring together and advance the twin objectives of responding to climate change and achieving greater social justice.

Our programme of work will increase understanding of the relationship between climate change and poverty and identify what a socially just approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change would look like.

Read more about about our projects under the fair climate theme:

Green-collar jobs

Fuel poverty

Red and Green Taxes