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Green Innovation Policy Commission (GIPC)

Over the course of 2019–21, the Green Innovation Policy Commission (GIPC) sought to identify how policy can best support green innovation across the UK economy.

Dark green background with text on top of it that reads "Green Innovation Policy Commission".

12 June 2021

About

The UK is in the early stages of a clean growth transition. However, many of the environmental and social goals the UK is seeking to achieve are not driven by market incentives alone, such as reducing carbon emissions, increasing resource efficiency and the quality of our environment. Government policy is required to create and enable markets for businesses to innovate and deploy innovative products, services and business models. 

GIPC brought together progressive businesses and leading academics to identify how policy can best support green innovation across the UK economy and reward the innovators, entrepreneurs and investors who generate value from the solutions to the global environmental challenges we’ve committed to addressing.

Aims

Over its programme, the GIPC aimed to:

  • identify green innovation priorities across the UK economy, with a particular focus on hard-to-reach sectors, including road freight, buildings, heavy industry and food.
  • inject new thinking on how policy can most effectively promote and support green innovation.
  • create a new public dialogue between policy makers, academics, and business leaders on the challenges and opportunities around economic growth directed at green innovation.  

Outcomes

2019
2020
  • In the first half of 2020, the GIPC held a series of workshops with businesses and other experts to analyse the drivers for green innovation and what is holding it back. Over the course of its investigation, the GIPC conducted deep dives in five sectors of the economy, represented by business members of the commission. 
2021
  • In January 2021, the GIPC published their final report "Innovation for a Green Recovery: Business and Government in Partnership." The report highlights that green innovation is critical to futureproof the economic recovery and meet the county’s net zero and environmental goals. The commission called for a cross-government approach to green innovation and urged action across six policy areas:
    • Create demand for green innovation.
    • Boost green innovation investments.
    • Change the rules of the game.
    • Nurture innovation eco-systems.
    • Make infrastructure word for a greener economy.
    • Governance: working together to foster green recovery.
  • The Green Alliance published a summary of the GIPC recommendations for policymakers, "How to fast track innovation for a green industrial revolution." In January 2021, the GIPC sent a letter the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to highlight that a paradigm shift in green innovation was needed. 
  • In January 2021, the Green Alliance hosted an online event on how the UK can pursue green innovation at the pace and scale required. Attendees included: Belinda Gordon, John Cridland, Amy Jenkins, Angela Francis and Professor Paul Ekins OBE. Watch "New solutions for a green recovery: unlocking the UK’s innovation potential."
  • In February 2021, the Green Alliance brought together a panel of experts to discuss the role of innovation in the recovery from Covid-19 and the transition to a green economy. Chaired by Green Alliance strategy director, Belinda Gordon, the panel included John Cridland, Prof Paul Ekins, and Angela Francis, as well as Amy Jenkins, deputy director for clean growth, BEIS. Listen to the podcast "Event highlights: Unlocking the UK’s green innovation potential", which brings together the highlights from the panel discussion.

Publications

Reports
News

People

GIPC commissioners
The Commission was chaired by John Cridland and brings together UCL academics, progressive businesses, and representatives from the Aldersgate Group and WWF. The research was led by Prof Paul Ekins and UCL academics and supported by Green Alliance.
 

The Commissioners

  • John Cridland (Chair), The Home Group
  • Professor Paul Ekins, UCL
  • Angela Francis, WWF
  • Ian Gardner, Arup
  • Peter Harris, UPS
  • Richard Kirkman, Veolia
  • Mariana Mazzucato, UCL
  • Nick Molho, Aldersgate Group
  • Benet Northcote, John Lewis Partnership
  • Jeremy Oppenheim
  • Graham Southall, Northumbrian Water

Support team

Caterina Brandmayr
Green Alliance

George Dibb
UCL

Will McDowall
GIPC

Michal Miedzinski
UCL