The UK Versus Environmental Protection and Climate Change

In terms of its responsibility towards the environment, the UK is 85th in the world. This rank is calculated from 6 data sets. The UK comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₁ and in energy to GDP efficiency₂. It does better than average in terms of its forested percent change 1990-2015₃ and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. The UK does not succeed in everything, however. The UK does worse than average when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄ and in annual meat consumption per person₅. 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"₆.

As a result of pollution, every one of England´s rivers fails to meet safety standards₇ and it has the worst water quality in swimming sites in Europe₈. In 2019 and 2020, there were 600,000 occasions where raw sewage was pumped into rivers, beaches and open waters₉. 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
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

Compared to Europe (2024)10
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank10
1	Greece	59.5
2	Italy	62.3
3	Portugal	67.5
	...
21	Belarus	82.3
22	Malta	84.3
23	Finland	84.5
24	UK	86.0
25	Slovenia	86.3
26	Czechia	89.5
27	Ukraine	93.0
28	Bulgaria	93.5
29	Estonia	96.5
	Europe Avg	88.4
q=43.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2024)10
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank10
1	Japan	35.3
2	Peru	45.5
3	Philippines	46.5
	...
82	Iran	85.0
83	USA	85.5
84	Mongolia	85.5
85	UK	86.0
86	Panama	86.0
87	Slovenia	86.3
88	Benin	86.5
89	Dominican Rep.	86.8
	World Avg	89.8
q=188.

The UK comes 85th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 6 data sets. The UK comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₁ and in energy to GDP efficiency₂. It does better than average in its forested percent change 1990-2015₃ and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. The UK does not succeed in everything, however. The UK does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄ and in annual meat consumption per person₅.

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 better3
Pos.		2015 %3
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.

Regarding its forested percent change 1990-2015, the UK is positioned 37th in the world.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_11,12. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₃. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_14,12, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_15,16. 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_17,15. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₁₈, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₁₉. 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.₂₀.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₂; the best from 1990-2015 are Scandinavia (+37.0%), The Middle East (+29.0%) and The Mediterranean (+19.2%)₃. 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%)₃.

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 comes 6th-best in the world regarding 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)₆

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Higher is better2
Pos.		20142
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
16	Philippines	13.51
17	Luxembourg	13.33
18	Bangladesh	13.16
	Europe Avg	09.80
	World Avg	09.29
q=119.

The UK comes 14th-best in the world in terms of 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
2	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
3	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
58	Luxembourg	1994 Aug 07
59	Georgia	1994 Aug 31
60	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.

With regard to how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity, the UK is positioned 63rd in the world.

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.₂₁

“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)₂₁

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better4
Pos.		2011 %4
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.

The UK ranks 21st-worst in the world in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population.

2.6. Meat Consumption

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

Meat Consumption Lower is better5
Pos.		2021 kg5
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.

The UK ranks 150th in the world in terms of annual meat consumption per person.

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 switch₂₂. 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 Bangladesh₅.

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.₅

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

#Brexit_Party #British_National_Party #climate_change #environmentalism #Reform_UK #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 Baker₂₃.

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"₂₁.

Even worse than the Conservatives are the UK's true denialists, who can be found in fringe parties such as UKIP₂₄, the racist British National Party (who describe the global evidence for climate change as a 'left wing conspiracy')₂₄ 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 #sewage #UK #UK_public_health #uk_public_services #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 standards₇ and we have the worst water quality in swimming sites in Europe₈. In 2019 and 2020, there have been 600,000 occasions where raw sewage was pumped into rivers, beaches and open waters₉.

The cause is deregulation. Conservative Environment Secretary from 2014 (Liz Truss) cut £24m from sewage monitoring₇ and they've removed legal safeguards_7,9. "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"₇. Despite public uproar, the Conservatives rejected the Environment Act 2021 amendment "that would have introduced a legal obligation to bring down sewage dumping progressively"₂₅ 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"₂₆.₂₇. 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"₂₈ and have given a whopping £72 billion as shareholder dividends since privatisation₂₅. 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).