The UK’s leadership on tackling climate change has delivered “real change” at home and led to a global transformation – but more should be done to reap the economic benefits that presents, Former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore says today (13 January).
Chris Skidmore has published his Net Zero Review, which outlines the “opportunities” offered by net zero. The former energy minister says the UK’s leadership on tackling climate change has led to changes at home and around the world – with more than 90% of the world’s GDP now committed to net zero.
The review, Mission Zero, makes 129 recommendations covering areas including the greater role that businesses can be supported to play, making better use of infrastructure and delivering more energy-efficient homes.
The UK Government says each recommendation is designed to maximise economic investment, opportunities and jobs while working towards achieving legally binding targets to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The recommendations include launching a task force to work jointly with industry to identify barriers and enablers and develop sector-specific circular economy business models for priority sectors. It also calls for an end to plastic waste exports by 2027, setting an end date for importing recycled plastic chips, and to “ratchet up minimum percentage recycled content targets”.
It also states government should “deliver urgently” on its commitments to collection and packaging reforms, including extended producer responsibility (EPR), standardised collections, and deposit return schemes (DRS).
[The report] offers a range of ideas and innovations for us to consider as we work to grasp the opportunities from green growth.
Business and Energy Secretary, Grant Shapps, commented: “With a wealth of talent and expertise, and a track record to be proud of, the UK is well placed to ensure that tackling climate change also brings new jobs and investment for businesses and communities.
“I am grateful to Chris Skidmore – the man who signed our climate commitments into law – for his detailed report today, which offers a range of ideas and innovations for us to consider as we work to grasp the opportunities from green growth.”
Skidmore’s proposals include backing business by reviewing incentives for investment in decarbonisation, backing local action by reforming the planning system to put net zero “at its heart” nationally and locally, delivering energy efficient homes, adopting a 10-year plan to make heat pumps a widespread technology in the UK and using infrastructure to unlock net zero.
We are fully behind the call for urgent action to deliver the commitments in the resources and waste strategy.
Commenting on the report, John Scanlon, chief executive officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “With net zero core to our business and the wider resources sector, SUEZ welcomed the opportunity to take part in the review, and the inclusive, collaborative and comprehensive approach used.
“The review highlights not only that a more resource efficient, circular economy is central to delivering net zero, but also the economic opportunity it creates for the UK.
“We are fully behind the call for urgent action to deliver the commitments in the resources and waste strategy, finalising these critical legislative reforms has the potential to unlock as much as £12 billion investment in developing a circular economy here in the UK.”
