In June last year, the UK Parliament passed new legislation on the advice of the Committee on Climate Change, which I chair. It commits the UK to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The pledges which have followed signal a clear ambition from local authorities, businesses and academic institutions to come together to help meet this vital goal. Targets alone, however, are only an intention. They require policies, informed by the best available evidence, largely set by government, to deliver the UK’s net zero transition over the next 30 years. The scale of action, and the level of coordination that entails across the public and private sectors, is challenging. Achieving net zero is a must for our planet, but the shift away from fossil fuels will also modernise our economy, and bring cleaner air, more nutritious diets, new industries, and jobs. There is much work to do. Industries and businesses must have long-term signals that encourage them to invest in zero-carbon options. Partnerships will be needed across industry, academia, government and the third sector to ensure new skills are developed to create a net zero compatible workforce. Similar collaboration is needed to deliver innovative solutions to some of the thorniest challenges we face, such as how to capture and store large amounts of CO2. Involving the public in the many changes ahead is critical. The net zero transition will not go unnoticed as we shift to lower-carbon forms of heating in our homes, as we opt for electric rather than petrol and diesel vehicles, as we choose to walk and cycle more. That all begins this year, in the year of climate action. The private sector, academia, NGOs and government must come together to ensure that the UK’s leadership on climate change is clear as we host the pivotal UN Climate Summit in November in Glasgow. is is our chance to show the world that we are serious about righting the wrongs of the past. It’s an opportunity we must seize
