Sustainability 101: What Does It Really Mean For The UK?
Climate change has been plaguing the global scene in the past century.
Unfortunately, the urgency to address climate change accelerated as we entered the 21st century. Although the UN provides sustainability guidelines and goals to slow climate change down, it’s challenging to concretise these measures.
What is sustainable in the first place? What does it all mean? How will it be operationalised in the UK?
Let’s discover how the UK plans to achieve sustainability.
Sustainability in a nutshell
To understand government measures, we must first understand what sustainability really means.
There is no universally accepted definition of sustainability; in fact, many recognise the term to mean various things. One thing is for sure – the term is usually linked to solving environmental issues, whether global or local, through long-term plans.
More than that, sustainability aims to avoid the depletion of our planet’s resources by introducing innovative methods to stop it altogether.
The sustainable goal is simple: to increase the quality of life as our world advances technologically.
The three pillars of sustainability
Many explain sustainable development as three pillars working together to create a better world.
The three pillars are the economy, society, and the environment. These three must be in sync to be successful. Companies and governments commonly use the three pillars as a guideline towards creating a more sustainable future.
What it means for the UK
The UK is no stranger to solving climate change. It is one of the leaders of sustainability.
The government has taken the initiative, even before the UN, to take the necessary steps towards sustainable development. The Prime Minister, for example, recently announced plans to target the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 68% by the year 2030.
The results are jaw-dropping as the UK is recognised to have the fastest rate of cutting emissions compared to the major economies of the world.
In 2020, sustainability goals include increasing jobs, setting up policies and investments to develop technologies that could cut down on emissions, and create a self-sustaining method to reduce carbon emissions in the future.
Making the UK sustainable
The national and local governments have already implemented green initiatives in almost every part of the country. We see the creation of a win-win situation for both locals and the greater economy.
Steps taken by the private sector
Numerous private corporations and companies have participated in reducing their carbon footprint.
Not only are they helping the environment, but they are also reaping the benefits through profits boosts and cost-efficient systems.
Green Homes Grant Scheme 2020
This 2020, the UK government has implemented many policies to incentivise locals to go green. One of the most valuable is the Green Homes Grant Scheme, open to England residents.
How do I get a government green grant?
If you are a homeowner and a landlord in need of heating system replacement, you can apply for the Green Homes Grant. A voucher is awarded to households that want to switch their non-efficient heating systems to energy-efficient innovations.
Vouchers for residential households reach up to £5,000 while those classified as vulnerable may be given up to £10,000.
How do you get the green deal approved?
To avail of the voucher, the homeowner or landlord of the property must submit an application form with 2-3 cost quotations. Once approved, you can go ahead with the desired contractor to implement the improvements.
Building a better future
The global environment has been deteriorating, so it’s only appropriate to take steps to stop or at least slow the destruction down.
Both institutions and individuals can help the cause. Take advantage of policies such as the Green Homes Grant to create a greener, more Earth-friendly world.
Ready to take the next step? Speak with us at Euro Installation to learn about how you can make a difference.
