Former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore published his Net Zero Review, Mission Zero, in January 2023, outlining the opportunities offered by net zero and laying out how the UK could do more to reap the economic benefits of green growth. The review offers 129 recommendations aimed at maximizing economic investment, opportunities, and job creation, all while working towards the legally binding target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The recommendations cover areas such as supporting businesses to play a greater role, optimizing infrastructure use, and promoting energy-efficient homes.
UKCRIC wrote the article “Mission Zero: Why the Skidmore Review can kickstart the nation’s journey to net zero” as a response to the review. The article was the result of an online discussion chaired by Rob Warm, a journalist with PoliticsHome, and involved UKCRIC colleagues Liz Varga, Tom Dolan, Jennifer Schooling and Richard Dawson. The article is a commentary and critique of Chris Skidmore’s Independent Review of Net Zero in the context of infrastructure and urban systems and what it means for the sector and for infrastructure practitioners.
Following this published response to the UK Net Zero Rapid Review, UKCRIC is developing further mechanisms to provide robust scientific and engineering research and knowledge to inform the development and implementation of policies and investment decisions aimed at achieving net zero. The research conducted by UKCRIC provides valuable insights and evidence-based recommendations which could inform the development of policies and investment decisions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net zero. The consortium's interdisciplinary approach and its focus on practical, real-world solutions can help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future, and to ensure that the UK's infrastructure and cities are ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing climate.
You can also read UKCRIC’s recent related piece “Infrastructure and urban systems for a net zero, sustainable, resilient and prosperous economy,” on PoliticsHome.