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Briefing Note: Sustainability Provisions in The King’s Speech 2024

Briefing Note: Sustainability Provisions in The King’s Speech 2024

Date: 17 July 2024

Author: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA

Purpose

This briefing note provides an analysis of the sustainability-related provisions outlined in His Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament for 2024. It focuses on legislative initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, advancing clean energy, and addressing climate change.

Key Legislative Proposals

Great British Energy Bill

  • Objective: To establish a publicly owned clean power company and accelerate investment in renewable energy.
  • Key Measures:
    • Great British Energy: Establishes Great British Energy, a publicly owned company to spearhead renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind.
    • Renewable Investment: Provides funding and support for renewable energy initiatives to enhance the UK's clean energy infrastructure.
    • Energy Independence: Aims to achieve energy independence by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy production.

The Crown Estate Bill

  • Objective: To enhance the management and sustainability of The Crown Estate’s assets.
  • Key Measures:
    • Sustainable Management: Implements sustainable management practices for The Crown Estate’s land and marine assets.
    • Renewable Projects: Facilitates the development of renewable energy projects on Crown Estate lands, particularly offshore wind farms.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill

  • Objective: To support the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
  • Key Measures:
    • Revenue Support: Introduces a revenue support mechanism to incentivise the production and adoption of SAF.
    • Reduction in Emissions: Aims to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation sector by promoting the use of SAF.

Water (Special Measures) Bill

  • Objective: To improve water quality and management.
  • Key Measures:
    • Water Quality Standards: Strengthens the regulatory framework to improve water quality and protect water resources.
    • Sustainable Water Management: Implements measures for sustainable water management and conservation.

Planning and Infrastructure Bill

  • Objective: To accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing while ensuring sustainability.
  • Key Measures:
    • Streamlined Planning: Reforms the planning system to expedite the approval and construction of sustainable infrastructure projects.
    • Nature Recovery: Uses development to fund nature recovery, ensuring economic growth and environmental sustainability go hand in hand.

Product Safety and Metrology Bill

  • Objective: To ensure the UK’s product safety and metrology framework supports sustainability.
  • Key Measures:
    • Addressing New Risks: Regulates products with modern-day safety and environmental concerns, such as e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries.
    • Technological Progress: Updates the legal metrology framework to support net-zero aims and infrastructure, ensuring energy meters and other devices are accurate.

Strategic Goals

The legislative measures related to sustainability aim to:

  • Promote Renewable Energy: Increase investment in renewable energy projects to reduce carbon emissions and achieve energy independence.
  • Enhance Environmental Management: Implement sustainable management practices for land and marine resources, particularly those under The Crown Estate.
  • Support Sustainable Aviation: Encourage the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel to reduce the aviation sector’s carbon footprint.
  • Improve Water Quality: Strengthen water quality standards and promote sustainable water management practices.
  • Streamline Sustainable Development: Reform the planning system to expedite sustainable infrastructure projects while promoting nature recovery.
  • Modernise Product Safety: Ensure product regulations keep pace with technological advancements and environmental concerns.

The table below summarises the key legislative proposals and measures related to sustainability as outlined in the King’s Speech 2024.

Bill

Objective

Key Measures

Great British Energy Bill

Establish a publicly owned clean power company and accelerate investment in renewable energy

Great British Energy, Renewable Investment, Energy Independence

The Crown Estate Bill

Enhance the management and sustainability of The Crown Estate’s assets

Sustainable Management, Renewable Projects

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill

Support the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Revenue Support, Reduction in Emissions

Water (Special Measures) Bill

Improve water quality and management

Water Quality Standards, Sustainable Water Management

Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing while ensuring sustainability

Streamlined Planning, Nature Recovery

Product Safety and Metrology Bill

Ensure the UK’s product safety and metrology framework supports sustainability

Addressing New Risks, Technological Progress

Conclusion

The King’s Speech 2024 outlines significant legislative initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and addressing climate change. The proposed bills reflect the government’s commitment to enhancing renewable energy, improving environmental management, supporting sustainable aviation, and ensuring sustainable development and product safety.

Authoring Tools: Blog Bunny

An advanced AI developed by OpenAI, GPT content is designed to simplify and explain complex concepts with authority and clarity. Specialising in transforming intricate topics into engaging, easy-to-understand articles, Blog Bunny employs its vast database and research capabilities to ensure factual accuracy and depth. Dedicated to enhancing the educational aspect of blog posts, a source for insightful, well-researched and expertly written content that resonates with readers across various domains. Blog Bunny can be accessed at https://chat.openai.com/g/g-8I5hFRY8p-blog-bunny

Disclaimer:

Please note that parts of this post were assisted by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool. The AI has been used to generate certain content and provide information synthesis. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the AI's contributions are based on its training data and algorithms and should be considered as supplementary information.


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