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UK: Labour's green investment plan faces major reduction

Keir Starmer has announced a significant cutback in Labour's ambitious £28bn green investment program due to economic pressures.

Kiran Stacey and Fiona Harvey report for The Guardian.

In short:

The decision marks a major policy shift for Starmer, moving away from a 2021 pledge for extensive environmental spending.
Internal debates and economic challenges have influenced this change, highlighting fiscal constraints and political strategy.
Despite the cutback, Labour maintains its commitment to green infrastructure and a £6bn home insulation scheme.

Key quote:

“We announced the £28bn two and a half years or so ago, when interest rates were very, very low."

— Keir Starmer, Labour Party leader

Why this matters:

This policy shift underscores the challenges of balancing ambitious environmental goals with economic realities. It's a crucial issue for voters concerned about sustainable development and fiscal responsibility, reflecting broader national debates on environmental policy and economic management.

Energy decisions can be deeply personal. We need to listen to households and communities before we prescribe their energy transition.

www.theguardian.com

A map of the Great Lakes and surrounding U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Credit: Lesniewski/BigStock Photo ID: 202538167

The Great Lakes want to be the Silicon Valley of water

As climate extremes dry out the West and global tensions mount, the Great Lakes region is betting big on its most abundant resource: fresh water. The first in a series investigating the blue economy in the Great Lakes region.

Brett Walton reports for the Great Lakes News Collaborative: Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now, Michigan Public, and The Narwhal.

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