Article by Amanda Doyle
THE UK Government has released its long-awaited Energy White Paper on how the country’s energy system will transition to net zero by 2050.
Published after numerous delays, the Energy White Paper builds on the Government’s recently announced ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution. It covers areas including moving away from fossil fuels, increased use of renewables, support for more electric cars, and greener domestic heating.
Alok Sharma, Business and Energy Secretary, said: “[This] plan establishes a decisive and permanent shift away from our dependence on fossil fuels, towards cleaner energy sources that will put our country at the forefront of the global green industrial revolution.
Local net zero progress meeting Whitehall stymie
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There is a groundswell of believers in the need for a locally-led energy transition, but central government remains nervous of delegating authority or resource to city and regional leaders. This was the consensus of industry, policy, consumer advocacy and academic leaders at a round table hosted by Utility Week.
Key points:
Diversity in local and regional pathways to net zero is increasingly considered key for legitimising net-zero investments and engaging the public in their role in future energy markets
Advocates for locally-designed and led transition plans feel central government is reluctant to hand over authority and funding to enable this
Reporter, Solar Media
A group of 41 city mayors and council leaders have committed to push for more government funding for clean energy projects in their local authorities.
Regional leaders in England and Scotland, including six London boroughs, signed a pledge today (10 December) to reach net zero carbon emissions in their respective councils by 2045, five years ahead of the national deadline set out by the UK government last year.
The UK100 Net Zero Pledge - an open letter signed by the councils -explains that they will target carbon neutrality across their own operations by 2030, and to work with residents and local businesses to bring overall emissions “in line with Net Zero” by 2045. The initiative has been launched in the run-up to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which will take place in Glasgow in November next year.