The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has joined 13 other leading members of the Professional Bodies Action Charter in signing a joint letter calling for the new Prime Minister to maintain the UK’s commitment to delivering its net-zero by 2050 and adaptation targets.
CIWM says the ongoing cost of living crisis and current heatwave have highlighted the acute risks if the UK Government does not prioritise action to combat climate change and build a green economy.
The waste and resource management sector has a vital role to play.
It continues that delivering the Net Zero Strategy could create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and prevent the next crisis from hitting families and communities hard.
The Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter represents 14 million professional members globally across a wide range of sectors from science and engineering, law, health, construction and the built environment, and finance and insurance.
CIWM says a managed transition to net zero by 2050 is the best way to shield UK citizens from future price shocks, create homes that are warm and cheap to heat, and unlock private investment at scale for the sustainable markets of tomorrow.
The outgoing Prime Minister said the Net Zero Strategy is expected to create over 440,000 well-paying jobs and unlock £90 billion in private investment by 2030. This is why, CIWM says, the new Prime Minister must commit to delivering the transition to unlock these opportunities nationwide.
CEO, CIWM, Sarah Poulter, said: “The waste and resource management sector has a vital role to play in enabling the UK to meet its net zero commitment by 2050.
“Last year CIWM set out its own ambition to become a net zero organisation and we will soon be launching a sector-wide strategy that will support our members on their journey towards Net Zero.”