WHEN Teesside gained a freeport in the spring, it was given a great opportunity – not only to boost high skilled jobs and inward investment, but also to lead the way in sustainability. It’s clear from the announcement of GE Renewables’ wind turbine blade factory and the emergence of the Net Zero Teesside group that we’re moving in the right direction, especially as the region has also welcomed Nissan’s announcement of a new battery ‘gigafactory’. The Government’s commitment to reach net zero – the balance between carbon added to the atmosphere versus that taken away – by 2050 is an ambitious one which needs to be taken seriously. The Prime Minister has also called for national emissions to be reduced by 78 per cent in the next 14 years.