metamorworks /
Shutterstock.com
48
NET ZERO
IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
POWERING A GREENER FUTURE
Net Zero North West has unveiled a ground- breaking manifesto aimed at making the region the world’s first net zero cluster.
The group is a collaboration of industry leaders, politicians and academic experts all joined together by one central goal – to drive the North West’s potential to be a global leader in industrial decarbonisation.
The manifesto was launched with the backing of the Greater Manchester and Liverpool city region mayors and has sparked calls for Lancashire to do more to ensure it benefits fully from the lobbying exercise and wider net zero agenda.
The document looks at ways to create and safeguard over 600,000 jobs, while highlighting the action needed to substantially decarbonise regional industry by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
It is a roadmap that includes plans for greater energy efficiency, nuclear energy generation and improved rail infrastructure, enabling the region to lead the UK’s charge in tackling climate change.
It outlines a £30bn pipeline of live investable projects, with the opportunity for £207bn to be invested in the region overall, all aimed at decarbonising major industrial sectors in the region.
Research shows that the North West is the nation’s leader for manufacturing new, low- carbon technology, and has the highest number
of potential jobs in green tech manufacturing.
At the heart of the plan is a call for increased government support to drive key technologies like hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), develop enabling infrastructure, enhance regional communications, build appropriate skills and provide “overarching leadership” to monitor progress and support project delivery.
Ged Barlow, chief executive at Net Zero North West, says: “Substantially decarbonising regional industry by 2030, and getting to net zero emissions by 2040, is an opportunity that presents significant economic benefits, both regionally and nationally.
“It will create and protect high value jobs and position the UK at the forefront of global industrial emissions reductions.
“Our plans underscore the importance of collaboration and collective action in addressing the challenges of climate change.
“By setting ambitious targets and working towards a common goal of sustainability, we can inspire other regions to follow suit and join the global movement towards a greener, more sustainable future.”
The manifesto document calls on the government to recognise the role the North West can play in delivering ‘new nuclear’ as part of the mix.
That includes siting the early deployment of small modular reactors in Lancashire and continued investment to ensure nationally critical skills are not lost as the Heysham power stations are retired and demand for fuel from Springfields, near Preston, changes to accommodate the newer range of reactors.
It says: “A major new nuclear programme will secure the future of those communities.”
Miranda Barker, chief executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, is Net Zero North West’s Lancashire representative and she spoke at the launch.
She believes the county’s world-leading advanced manufacturing base can and will play a key role in helping deliver the net zero vision.
However, there is work to do for the county to get its message through and to have a larger role and louder voice in the lobbying exercise.
Miranda Barker
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78
