The UK Versus Environmental Protection and Climate Change

The UK is positioned 57th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 7 data sets. The UK comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₁, its score on the Green Future Index₂ and in energy to GDP efficiency₃. It does better than average in its forested percent change 1990-2015₄ and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. The UK still has work to do. The UK does worse than average in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₅ and in annual meat consumption per person₆. The climate activist Greta Thunberg criticizes "creative carbon accounting" that allows the UK to look like it is reducing carbon emissions despite "the UK's active, current support of new exploitation of fossil fuels - for example, the UK shale-gas fracking industry, the expansion of its North Sea oil and gas fields, the expansion of airports as well as the planning permission for a brand new coal mine - [it's] beyond absurd"₇.

As a result of pollution, every one of England´s rivers fails to meet safety standards₈ and it has the worst water quality in swimming sites in Europe₉. In 2019 and 2020, there were 600,000 occasions where raw sewage was pumped into rivers, beaches and open waters₁₀. The cause is deregulation by the UK's Conservative Party, who have been in power since 2010. The best political parties in the UK for the environment are the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, and Labour.

1. UK's Responsibility Towards The Environment
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 1990-2015
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. Convention on Biological Diversity
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. UK Politics: Greens, Lib Dems and Labour are Good for the Environment
4. UK River and Beach Pollution from Sewage
5. Links

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1. UK's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment #uk_and_the_environment

Compared to Europe (2023)11
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank11
1	Greece	50.4
2	Italy	51.8
3	Germany	55.8
	...
15=	Hungary	68.6
16	Armenia	69.5
17	Slovakia	69.6
18=	UK	69.6
19	Romania	72.4
20	Czechia	77.2
21	Georgia	78.0
22=	Iceland	78.6
23	Bulgaria	78.8
	Europe Avg	79.9
q=43.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)11
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank11
1	Japan	33.2
2	Philippines	45.0
3	Uruguay	48.0
	...
54	Nigeria	69.2
55=	Singapore	69.5
55=	Armenia	69.5
57	UK	69.6
58=	Slovakia	69.6
59	Ivory Coast	70.5
60	El Salvador	71.8
61	Romania	72.4
	World Avg	85.7
q=188.

The UK ranks 57th in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 7 data sets. The UK comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₁, its score on the Green Future Index₂ and in energy to GDP efficiency₃. It does better than average in its forested percent change 1990-2015₄ and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. The UK still has work to do. The UK does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₅ and in annual meat consumption per person₆.

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 1990-2015

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 Higher is better4
Pos.		2015 %4
1	Iceland	+205.6
2	Bahrain	+144.4
3	Uruguay	+131.3
	...
34	Chile	+16.2
35	Hungary	+14.0
36	Morocco	+13.7
37	UK	+13.2
38	Denmark	+12.6
39	Lithuania	+12.1
40	Belarus	+10.9
41	India	+10.5
	Europe Avg	+15.0
	World Avg	+02.8
q=184.

The UK ranks 37th in the world when it comes to its forested percent change 1990-2015.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_12,13. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₄. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_15,13, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_16,17. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation_18,16. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₁₉, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₂₀. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.₂₁.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₃; the best from 1990-2015 are Scandinavia (+37.0%), The Middle East (+29.0%) and The Mediterranean (+19.2%)₄. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-20.9%), Africa (-08.0%) and North America (-02.2%)₄.

For more, see:

• "Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2021).

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better1
Pos.		20181
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
4	Malta	80.9
5	Sweden	80.5
6	UK	79.9
7	Luxembourg	79.1
8	Austria	79.0
9	Ireland	78.8
10	Finland	78.6
11	Iceland	78.6
12	Spain	78.4
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

The UK is 6th-best in the world in terms of its environmental performance.

“The UK is, however, very special. Not only for its mind-blowing historical carbon debt, but also for its current, very creative, carbon accounting.

Since 1990 the UK has achieved a 37 per cent reduction of its territorial CO₂ emissions, according to the Global Carbon Project. But these numbers do not include emissions from aviation, shipping and those associated with imports and exports. If these numbers are included the reduction is around 10 per cent a year, according to Tyndall Manchester.

And the main reason for this reduction is not a consequence of climate policies, but rather a 2001 EU directive on air quality that essentially forced the UK to close down its very old and extremely dirty coal power plants and replace them with less dirty gas power stations. And switching from one disastrous energy source to a slightly less disastrous one will of course result in lower emissions. [...]

The UK's active, current support of new exploitation of fossil fuels - for example, the UK shale-gas fracking industry, the expansion of its North Sea oil and gas fields, the expansion of airports as well as the planning permission for a brand new coal mine - is beyond absurd.

This ongoing irresponsible behaviour will no doubt be remembered in history as one of the greatest failures of humankind.”

"No-One is Too Small to Make a Difference" by Greta Thunberg (2019)₇

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Higher is better3
Pos.		20143
1	Hong Kong	26.32
2	Sri Lanka	20.00
3	Panama	17.86
	...
11	Denmark	14.93
12	Peru	14.49
13	Uruguay	14.08
14	UK	13.89
15=	Costa Rica	13.51
15=	Philippines	13.51
17	Luxembourg	13.33
18=	Bangladesh	13.16
	Europe Avg	09.80
	World Avg	09.29
q=119.

The UK ranks 14th-best in the world regarding energy to GDP efficiency.

2.4. Convention on Biological Diversity

#biodiversity #the_environment #USA

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		0 Signed
1=	China	1993 Dec 29
1=	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
1=	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
58	Luxembourg	1994 Aug 07
59=	Georgia	1994 Aug 31
59=	Egypt	1994 Aug 31
61	UK	1994 Sep 01
62	Chad	1994 Sep 05
63	Gambia	1994 Sep 08
64	Micronesia	1994 Sep 18
65	Malaysia	1994 Sep 22
	Europe Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

The UK is 60th in the world in terms of how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was originally sparked from United Nations activity in the 1980s as a result of rising scientific alarm over the impact of human activity on natural habitats, including a rising awareness of extinctions and shifts in ecosystems that occasionally cause widespread disruption that is difficult (or impossible) to reverse.

After a long period of international consultation involving hundreds of scientists and environmental ministers, the Convention was finalized and launched at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and received 168 signatures over the subsequent year.

Part of the first wave of signees were a large number of small island nations, who are uniquely susceptible to over-exploitation by rich companies and countries, but simultaneously, are (as a group) the least responsible for driving global extinctions.

Data on when each country ratified the CBD forms part of the formula of the Social and Moral Development Index, with countries losing points for reticence (taking into account the foundation dates of newly independent countries). The USA stands alone in not ratifying it, but is the world's greatest driver for activities that cause biodiversity loss.

For more, see:

• "Humanity is the Cause of the Earth's Current Sixth Mass Extinction Event" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

The UK is one of the most nature-deprived countries in the world and yet the government, over the 10-year period from 2010 to 2020 in which it promised to, did not move to protect endangered species, slow the degradation of land and natural habitats nor reduce agricultural pollution which devastates the natural environment (the opposite; water pollution is worse than ever now that the UK is not subject to EU monitoring). There has been a reduction in funding to protect biodiversity.₂₂

“The targets [required] the UK government to make the public aware of the value of biodiversity, but the KNCC found that 'more than half of the UK public report no awareness of the threats to biodiversity.”

The Guardian (2019)₂₂

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better5
Pos.		2011 %5
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
122	Netherlands	23.0%
123	Finland	22.9%
124	Congo, DR	22.8%
125	UK	22.6%
126	Malawi	22.0%
127	UAE	20.8%
128	Norway	20.5%
129	Botswana	20.4%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

In terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, the UK is positioned 21st-worst in the world.

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption Lower is better6
Pos.		2021 kg6
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
147	S. Korea	81.5
148	Dominica	81.6
149	Hungary	82.1
150	UK	82.3
151	Czechia	82.4
152	Bahrain	82.8
153	Qatar	83.0
154=	Iceland	83.6
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

Regarding annual meat consumption per person, the UK is 150th in the world.

Vegetarian diets have health advantages over carnivorous diets. Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists are urging governments to encourage people to switch₂₃. Some vegetarians are morally opposed to the maltreatment of animals: some avoid meat products as an offensive against the meat industry. But there are problems with vegetarians, too. Some merely want to look good socially; some have accepted pro-vegetarian ideas that are plain wrong and misguided, and, some faddish vegetarian diets are harmful and dangerous. The countries that ate the least meat throughout the 2010s were Burundi, Congo, DR and Bangladesh₆.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in the UK was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.₆

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index Higher is better2
Pos.		2023 Score2
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
4=	Sweden	6.3
4=	Denmark	6.3
6	Netherlands	6.2
7	UK	6.1
8	S. Korea	6.0
9	France	6.0
10=	Spain	5.9
10=	Germany	5.9
12	Belgium	5.8
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

With regard to its score on the Green Future Index, the UK ranks 7th-best in the world.

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.₂₄.

3. UK Politics: Greens, Lib Dems and Labour are Good for the Environment

#British_National_Party #climate_change #environmentalism #UK #UKIP

Taking into account the long-term costs of climate change, it is the Green Party in the UK that are pushing for the most sensible policies on combatting climate change. Equally unsurprisingly, closest to them are the centrist Liberal Democrats. Unfortunately, these two parties do not enjoy a great many voters. Although the Labour Party do have some good policies, it's the Conservative party, which has been in power more than any other party in recent decades, that sets the rules. They are held back by leadership that lacks an ethical framework, and, a large number of climate skeptics. Many of its politicians are influenced directly by fossil fuel contributions to the party and some of these congregate in the backwards "Global Warming Policy Foundation", members including climate idiots such as Nigel Lawson and Steve Baker₂₅.

The Conservative Party, in power since 2010, have presided over the missing of almost all of the last batch of 10-year climate targets set in 2010. It is 'failing to protect threatened species, end the degradation of land, reduce agricultural pollution or increase funding for green schemes, [... and] is not ending unsustainable fishing"₂₂.

Even worse than the Conservatives are the UK's true denialists, who can be found in fringe parties such as UKIP₂₆, the racist British National Party (who describe the global evidence for climate change as a 'left wing conspiracy')₂₆ and Reform UK (a rebranding of the Brexit Party). Thankfully these parties have little influence.

4. UK River and Beach Pollution from Sewage

#public_health #UK #water

The UK has regained its status as 'the dirty man of Europe'; every single one of England´s rivers now fails to meet safety standards₈ and we have the worst water quality in swimming sites in Europe₉. In 2019 and 2020, there have been 600,000 occasions where raw sewage was pumped into rivers, beaches and open waters₁₀.

The cause is deregulation. Conservative Environment Secretary from 2014 (Liz Truss) cut £24m from sewage monitoring₈ and they've removed legal safeguards_8,10. "Raw sewage dumps have doubled since those cuts", say Greenpeace, and the Environment Agency "found that 90% of sewage monitors at seasides are broken [or] not installed"₈. Despite public uproar, the Conservatives rejected the Environment Act 2021 amendment "that would have introduced a legal obligation to bring down sewage dumping progressively"₂₇ and the 2023 Water Quality (Sewage Discharge) Bill that would "increase penalties for water companies and others who fail to adequately monitor sewage discharges, impose fines and binding targets for such events"₂₈.₂₉. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party, are simply powerless to force the Government to act.

As long as our population and waste products continue to increase, and climate change makes rain events more extreme, we need to invest more in preventative measures. These include re-funding and empower environmental agencies such as the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and OFWAT and setting legal requirements to make improvements before profits are used as bonuses. Water companies can afford it - bosses are "taking home gigantic pay packets and gifting themselves obscene bonuses"₃₀ and have given a whopping £72 billion as shareholder dividends since privatisation₂₇. Those responsible for failing to stop sewage polluting public water need to be held to account more strictly, regardless of their political ties to government.

We need to improve building standards and add green measures such as waterbutt capturing of roofwater for use in cisterns and gardens. We need more protected natural areas around built-up areas to replace the woodlands and natural features that were previously excellent at soaking up groundwater, preventing sewerage systems from overflowing; likewise, we need to discourage gardens that are homogenous expanses of low-biology lawn or tarmacked over. In short, we need both low-level behaviour changes, and top-level engagement from Government. If all of these things are pursued, the UK should be able to reduce the amount of sewage entering our rivers and waters.

For more, see:

• "UK River and Beach Pollution from Sewage" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).