Net Zero Review - Meeting with Chris Skidmore
The BRC and members met with the government's Net Zero Review lead Chris Skidmore MP recently to discuss some of the opportunities and barriers to carbon reduction.
The government announced its Net Zero review back in the autumn to look at net zero in the context of the growth agenda. Mr Skidmore was keen to stress that the government remains committed to net zero by 2050 and is considering views put forward in over 50 roundtable events and over a thousand submissions of evidence. He stated that net zero is an economic opportunity as well as critical for mitigating climate change.
The review will be looking at the evidence and views under six pillars:
- Pillar 1: Securing net zero: certainty, clarity, consistency and continuity by Government; energy efficiency is vital; finance has a big role to play.
- Pillar 2: Powering net zero: explores all of the key power/energy sub-sectors, addressing growth to date, opportunities, challenges and solutions to catalyse delivery of our ambitions.
- Pillar 3: net zero and the economy: enablers of growth and sectoral drivers of growth (includes retail)
- Pillar 4: net zero and communities: There is a real opportunity to maximise this local ambition and create regional leaders in new green industries, helping to level up, regenerate and grow communities.
- Pillar 5: net zero and the individual: Individuals are vital, active participants in the transition to net zero, and are already making green choices at pace and scale. Further support from government is needed to ensure that this continue
- Pillar 6: the future of net zero: seizing new opportunities - R&D, emerging tech, carbon markets
The BRC was joined on the call by retail and trade association members. We reflected many of the areas in our original submission including renewables, the need for policy clarity on HGVs and charging infrastructure, changing consumer behaviour and data consistency.
Chris Skidmore and the BEIS team aim to complete their review before the Christmas break with a government response expected in March 2023.