Eamonn Ives
CapX
United Kingdom
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Past articles by Eamonn:
Chris Skidmore on why the future of the planet – and of democracy – depend on decarbonisation
Cutting emissions from the economy has long been a central aim of Boris Johnson’s Government. But what started as an ambition to decarbonise for the sake of the planet has now morphed – partly, at least – into an even more urgent mission to defend democracy itself. The horrific war which Vladimir Putin is waging […] → Read More
On energy prices, there are no easy answers
With Ofgem about to announce a hike in the energy price cap, politicians, NGOs and commentators are lining up with ways to protect families who can ill afford another increase to their household bills. The trouble is, few of these policy proposals would achieve much at all, while many would be actively bad for consumers. […] → Read More
COP out – why global summits alone won't fix climate change
Has COP26 all ended in tears? In a quite literal sense, it very nearly did. When closing the conference on Saturday evening, COP president Alok Sharma struggled to contain his emotions as he spoke of the ‘deep disappointment’ at last minute changes to the wording of the Glasgow Climate Pact. Instead of a commitment to […] → Read More
If we want road pricing, let's start with HGVs
Last week, the Tony Blair Institute became the latest in a long line of think tanks to come out in favour of road pricing. In their excellent paper, authors Tim Lord and Christina Palmou note that changing how we tax motorists – by moving away from blunt instruments like Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise Duty, and […] → Read More
Forget the Frosties tax, Dimbleby's strategy offers food for thought
Yesterday’s publication of the second instalment of the National Food Strategy was rightly met with indignation from consumer advocates, who largely took aim at its recommendation to hike the price of everyday essentials by introducing taxes on salt and sugar. A calamitous Today programme interview, in which Henry Dimbleby, the report’s author, seemed to suggest […] → Read More
Free trade can be good for the environment – here's how
Readers of this site will need no convincing of the benefits of international free trade for economic growth. In a list of reasons why global poverty rates have nosedived since the mid-twentieth century, it ranks as number one. What is less well understood, however, is the dynamic between international free trade and green objectives. Indeed, […] → Read More
What's the Government's agenda for the environment?
As the last Queen’s Speech before the UK hosts COP26, the Government was understandably determined to use it as an opportunity to burnish its green credentials. ‘Building Back Greener’ was one of five distinct ‘Building Back’ pillars, and within it were three sub-pillars – the Government’s strategy for tackling climate change, the return of the […] → Read More
Tax pollution, not passengers
If reports in the Financial Times are to be believed, Boris Johnson wants to slash Air Passenger Duty on domestic flights. This comes off the back of an interim report as part of the ‘Union Connectivity Review’, currently being undertaken by the chair of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy. We’re told the Prime Minister thinks […] → Read More
Bridging the gap: the urgent case for new nuclear investment
At the tail end of last year, the Government released a flurry of documents on its plans to tackle climate change. The Energy White Paper detailed how to power the Net Zero economy of the future, while the National Infrastructure Strategy fleshed out ideas to deliver the assets needed. Before that, the 10 Point Plan … → Read More
Gene editing is a truly miraculous technology
News of yet another government consultation would ordinarily provoke little more than eye-rolling. When it comes to gene editing, however, it could be the start of something truly exciting. And if, as he has hinted, the Environment Secretary does decide to adopt a more liberal regulatory regime for the UK, that would certainly be no … → Read More
The CAP is lifted - now British farming can flourish after Brexit
Amid years of bitter, divisive Brexit arguments one of the rare areas of harmony is on agricultural policy. Even the most hardened EU enthusiasts had little love for the Common Agricultural Policy, and leaving it certainly offers a golden opportunity to reform farming for the better. Farming in the EU is dominated by the CAP, … → Read More
A starter for ten - but Boris should add a carbon charge to his climate action plan
As temperatures outside begin to fall, the Prime Minister has detailed how Britain will help stop them heating up on a global scale. Yes, the long awaited ten-point climate plan is with us at long last – mapping out both policies and funding pots to limit the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Much of what it … → Read More
Beyond Covid, Britain must focus relentlessly on its green entrepreneurs
In a pandemic-free alternative universe, the city of Glasgow is frantically getting ready to host the COP26 climate conference. As it is, the green get-together will have to wait until next winter. When November 2021 does eventually roll around, COP26 will be a vital chance for countries to reaffirm their commitments to addressing climate change. … → Read More
Food self-sufficiency would be a disaster for Britain
Last week, the National Farmers’ Union was busy as ever, banging the drum for British agriculture. Friday 21 August marked a particularly important date in their calendar – for it was Self Sufficiency Day. This is the notional day on which the UK ceases to feed itself, and starts to rely entirely on imports to … → Read More
How digital tech can help reboot Britain's small businesses
Even before the pandemic took a wrecking ball to our economy, we had our share of stubborn, seemingly intractable problems. Chief among these has been our pitiful rate of productivity growth, which has been a paltry 0.3% a year since the 2008 crash – a stark contrast to the reasonably healthy 2.3% typically enjoyed in … → Read More
Let hydrogen fuel our vehicles to a greener future
CityAM - Almost exactly a year ago, the UK became the first major economy to sign into law an ambition to become → Read More
For our economy and society, it's time to lift the ban on asylum seekers working
Last June, during World Refugee Week, then Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced the Government’s plans for a new resettlement scheme for refugees. The new programme, which consolidates three existing schemes into one, should soon come into operation. By all accounts, it will streamline the asylum process – making it easier to understand for those using … → Read More
We need a carbon border tax to get Britain to net zero
Later this year, the eyes of the world will be on the UK as it hosts COP26. While delegates won’t → Read More
Devolution must be at the heart of levelling up Britain
The United Kingdom is, in truth, a bit of a misnomer. As CapX has outlined in its excellent Rebalancing Britain series the country remains deeply divided in terms of economic prosperity. Boris Johnson has committed addressing such disparities – declaring his ambition to ‘level up’ all parts of the nation in his first speech as … → Read More
Rebalancing Britain: Devolution is the key to levelling up transport
Leftwing thinktank IPPR North has published a short paper on transport investment in different parts of the UK. To anyone from or living in the north, a quick glance at its executive summary makes for grim but not particularly surprising reading. Looking at historic data, IPPR North argue that over the past decade average annual … → Read More