To call the Net Zero project controversial would be to downplay the divisiveness and toxicity of the debate. Aside from carbon emissions themselves, climate politics is harming the environment more than anything else is. The current government is publicly committed to the 2050 Net Zero target but also unclear about how it intends to achieve …
Heating accounts for around 37% of the UK’s carbon emissions. If we don’t address that, we won’t hit Net Zero. However, successive governments have failed to be realistic in their approach to green heat, and the suite of technology and solutions required. That is something to address urgently. As climate politics continue to obstruct genuine …
The Environmental Benefits of Biomass Energy: A Cleaner, Sustainable Future Biomass heat is a vital contributor to the UK’s transition to Net Zero, and government departments recognise the importance of its role. It is a low-carbon, high-efficiency method of heating that provides sustainable heat, especially for buildings that are off the gas grid, and those …
COP28 Review A fractious, tense, and highly anticipated edition of COP ended this month with an unprecedented resolution. COP28 attracted controversy from the beginning as the presidency passed to Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu-Dhabi National Oil Company, who stated that there is ‘no science behind the phase-out of fossil fuels’. In fact, …
The UK Government Reverses Net Zero Polices Rishi Sunak announced in September 2023, that the 2050 target was still in place, and still achievable, but he was reversing or delaying almost all of the policies to achieve it. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the government equivocate on its Net Zero policies. One day …
The UK Government must go further on Net Zero It is reassuring to read the government’s Biomass Strategy, which acknowledges bioenergy’s role in reaching Net Zero. Bioenergy heating is the most reliable sustainable heat source for off-grid buildings, which would otherwise rely on oil boilers, whose annual CO2 emissions are measured by the tonne. Bioenergy, …
The UK Government Backtracks on Net Zero On 20 July 2023, there were by-elections in three UK parliamentary consistencies. One of those was Uxbridge and South Ruislip, a London constituency which would be affected by the proposed extension to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Transport for London charges drivers in the ULEZ £12.50 per …
Going Beyond Net Zero The UK Business Council for Sustainable Development says Britain could generate £70 billion annually in economic benefits through sustainable energy on the path to Net Zero. The report argues that generating a green energy surplus would create 279,000 jobs and £17 billion in annual exports for Britain. It also suggests “beyond …
Recommendations for Net Zero The National Grid has published five major reforms that it believes are essential to reaching Net Zero. In ‘Delivering for 2035: Upgrading the grid for a secure, clean and affordable energy future’ sets out the ‘priority actions’ that will allow power networks to meet their sustainability targets. What John Pettigrew from …
Why the UK Government isn’t Walking the Walk on Net Zero On 30 March 2023, the UK government published ‘Powering up Britain’, its paper ‘setting out how the government will enhance our country’s energy security, seize the economic opportunities of the transition, and deliver on our net zero commitments.’ The new plan came after a …
The UK Government Creates A Biomass Energy Opportunity A recent announcement from the Government pledged to make the UK the first G7 nation to legislate for net zero emissions. Biomass industry leaders have since called on ministers to urgently take heed of key findings from the Renewable Energy Association’s (REA) newly-published ‘Bioenergy Strategy’ report regarding …
