Dear George Osborne,
I wish to express my concern at the recent changes to the budget concerning the Climate Change Levy.
Although I appreciate it probably does make economic sense for the next few years, I feel that it is a backwards step to tax renewable energy sources in the same way as fossil fuels.
The decision to remove Levy Exemption Certificates completely contradicts the original intentions of the Levy, which was to effectively act as a "carbon tax" so decreasing the relative desirability of greenhouse gas-producing energy sources.
The changes now render that obsolete, instead just charging energy production methods indiscriminately, a major blow to renewable sources which will inevitably involve investment in these early days.
The rapid rate of consumption of the planet's fossil fuel reserves means that it will not be long until the price of non-renewables skyrockets globally. It is paramount that Britain has the infrastructure to deal with what essentially will be a forced transition to renewable sources. To enable this, we must ease our dependence on fossil fuels, and this can only be achieved through developing alternatives. It is expensive to establish renewable sources such as solar and wind farms, not only for initial setup but also to change the way in which the National Grid manages the energy, but once achieved it will pave the way for progress in the future. The only reason that they are currently the expensive "alternative" to traditional fossil fuels is that they are new – but before long they will be a necessity.
The changes in the Climate Change Levy mean that progress in developing renewable energy sources will be stalled, whilst the freeze in carbon tax will remove pressure from carbon-intensive sources, contradicting Britain's pledge to combat climate change. This is very probably a short-term bonus for the country's economy, but on the issue of climate change we cannot take that view – otherwise, when it inevitably does require short-term action, it will be too late to recover.
Many experts predict that future wars will be fought over coal, gas and oil reserves. Through transition to renewable energy sources, Britain would be removed from this potentially catastrophic outcome, and also decreases its reliance on sources from other countries of dubious stability.
I have deliberately not included the many frighteningly serious environmental problems associated with the consumption of fossil fuels, partially not to patronise you with the details of which I'm sure you are aware, but also because it is too easy to see them as 'someone else's problem'.
Those days will soon be over. Climate change will soon be everyone's problem, and we all have a responsibility to aim to reduce the effects. Your position of power grants you more responsibility than most, something I hope you do not take lightly.
I urge you, for not only the good of the planet but for the sake of the future of Britain, to reconsider the changes in the budget that are such a hindrance to progress.
Yours,
A worried Undergraduate Student
