The Net Zero Strategy sets out how the UK government intends to deliver on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The Net Zero Strategy sets out an economy-wide plan for how the UK government intends to support British businesses and consumers in making the transition to ‘clean energy and green technology’ – lowering the Britain’s reliance on fossil fuels by investing in sustainable clean energy in the UK, reducing the risk of high and volatile prices in the future, and strengthening the UK’s energy security.
The commitments made will unlock up to £90 billion of private investment by 2030, the government says, and also support 440,000 ‘well-paid jobs in green industries’ in 2030.
As part of the strategy, among the new investments announced today, the UK government says it will bring forward £295 million of capital funding for local authorities in England to prepare to implement free separate food waste collections for all households from 2025. This will support government’s intention to explore the ‘near elimination’ of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028.
By moving first and taking bold action, we will build a defining competitive edge in electric vehicles, offshore wind, carbon capture technology and more, whilst supporting people and businesses along the way.
The strategy also announces the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from materials such as everyday household waste, flue gases from industry, carbon captured from the atmosphere and excess electricity, which produce over 70% fewer carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel on a lifecycle basis.
“Our ambition is to enable the delivery of 10% SAF by 2030 and we will be supporting UK industry with £180 million in funding to support the development of UK SAF plants,” the government said in a statement.
£140 million Industrial and Hydrogen Revenue Support scheme to accelerate industrial carbon capture and hydrogen has also been announced, intending to ‘bridge the gap’ between industrial energy costs from gas and hydrogen and helping green hydrogen projects get off the ground.
Two carbon capture clusters – Hynet Cluster in North West England and North Wales and the East Coast Cluster in Teesside and the Humber – will put industrial heartlands at the ‘forefront of this technology’ in the 2020s and revitalise industries in the North Sea – backed by the government’s £1 billion in support, it says.
An extra £500 million has also been earmarked for innovation projects to develop the ‘green technologies of the future’.
‘Taking bold action’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The UK’s path to ending our contribution to climate change will be paved with well-paid jobs, billions in investment and thriving green industries – powering our green industrial revolution across the country.
“By moving first and taking bold action, we will build a defining competitive edge in electric vehicles, offshore wind, carbon capture technology and more, whilst supporting people and businesses along the way.
“With the major climate summit COP26 just around the corner, our strategy sets the example for other countries to build back greener too as we lead the charge towards global net zero.”
The policies and spending brought forward in the Net Zero Strategy mean that since the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan, it has mobilised £26 billion of government capital investment for the ‘green industrial revolution’, government says.
More than £5.8 billion of foreign investment in green projects has also been secured since the launch of the Ten Point Plan, along with at least 56,000 jobs in the UK’s clean industries – and another 18 deals have been set out at the Global Investment Summit to support growth in vital sectors such as wind and hydrogen energy, sustainable homes and carbon capture and storage.
If the government truly wants to level up the country, we’ll need much more investment once the dust has settled on the COP26 Glasgow climate summit.
Through energy efficiency measures, falling costs of renewables and more, the measures in the strategy also mean people’s energy bills will be lower by 2024 than if no action was taken particularly as gas prices rise, the government said.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Today’s plans set the UK on a clear path to net zero by 2050 and demonstrate how we will harness the power of nature to get there.
“As well as restoring and protecting peatlands and increasing tree planting, we are determined to grow towards a net zero economy. Whether it’s funding to help farmers decarbonise or support to deliver a circular economy to cut down on waste, we will support sectors to adapt.”
In response to today’s announcements, Shaun Spiers, executive director at Green Alliance, said: “Net zero is the best route to a thriving, prosperous UK, so the government is right to invest in a clean, green economy. Ahead of COP26, the world needed the UK to show climate leadership at home.
“There is always more to do, but mandating car manufacturers to sell more clean vehicles, supporting the switch to heat pumps and cleaning up our energy grid are essential steps to cutting emissions over the coming decade.
“But we need a more ambitious response from the chancellor at the spending review to turn these promises into jobs, growth and benefits to consumers. And if the government truly wants to level up the country, we’ll need much more investment once the dust has settled on the COP26 Glasgow climate summit.”
