UTILITY WEEK | MAY 2021 |
5
KNOWLEDGE WORTH KEEPING
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COP26 is the fi rst step
on the road, not the last
Our Countdown to COP series of articles has nally come to an end as the UK
opens the 26th Conference of the Parties in Glasgow on 31 October.
In the lead-up to this landmark event we have been gauging the views of
utilities leaders on what they want to hear from policymakers, and their own
role in accelerating decarbonisation.
A selection of responses are set out on pages 8 and 9 but the clear message is
that this summit must be a turning point. Ambitions now need to translate into
tangible commitments to reduce emissions and slow the rate of global warming.
Of course, we have heard these pleas before, and been disappointed. However,
the politicians taking to the stage in Scotland are in no doubt as to the very real
pressures to act now. It is two years since the last COP and during this hiatus we
have seen the public clamour for climate action grow and also witnessed a wor-
rying bounceback of carbon emissions a… er the lockdown-induced lull.
There have been criticisms of the UK's preparations for this event, from
developing nations who felt excluded, from sponsors who accused the govern-
ment of "mismanagement" and from across the board at the lack of a net-zero
policy roadmap from the host country.
On the latter point, the government did belatedly answer its critics with a
Πurry of green policy announcements in mid-October. A summary of the key
points is included in the Review overleaf as well as an overview of the Heat and
Buildings Strategy on p16.
A… er many months of criticising the government for dragging its heels on net
zero policy, it is only fair to applaud this clarity. The UK can claim to be ahead
of the pack in having set out a coordinated plan of action to meet some of the
world's most testing net-zero targets.
While there is a lot to commend, there are undoubtedly still big questions to
answer – on how this will be paid for, on the technologies that will do much of
the heavy li… ing and the mechanisms to encourage investment.
One key omission for me was the lack of detailed proposals to eradicate fuel
poverty and bolster the energy e• ciency of the UK's housing stock. Both the
Net Zero and Heat and Buildings Strategy talk of "no-regrets options" but it's dif-
cult to think of an area for net-zero related investment of fewer regrets. As we
point out through in our Energy Reset campaign, this is an essential component
in reducing individual carbon footprints. But to be e™ ective work must start now.
We should celebrate the fact that we now have a plan for net zero. But the
pressure on government to deliver on it will last long a… er COP.
James Wallin, editor, jameswallin@fav-house.com
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Letter from the Editor
James Wallin
