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Where next for ‘Net Zero’? UK climate policy at a crossroads.

25 January 2024, 6:15 pm–7:30 pm

An AI generated image of a high speed train running through green fields, with wind turbines in the background

Join us for this event as part of the UCL Policy & Practice seminar series.

This event is free.

Event Information

Open to

All

Availability

Yes

Cost

Free

Organiser

Eleanor Kingwell-Banham

Location

1.03
Malet Place
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom

 

In June 2019, the May Government legislated the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Since then, the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine have wrought havoc on energy markets, while the US, with its landmark Inflation Reduction Act, made decarbonisation an industrial policy priority. In this context, the Sunak Government commissioned the Hon. Chris Skidmore MP to conduct an independent review into the government's approach to net zero. The review reiterated the opportunities and benefits to the UK of transitioning to net zero. Yet, in the 12 months since the review was published, the Government's commitment to net zero has weakened amid intensifying right-wing populist attacks. Many fear that the UK's cherished bipartisan consensus on net zero may be unravelling.

In this event we will consider what the transition to net zero demands of the UK in terms of infrastructure, technology and behaviour change, the major parties' policies to deliver these, and the changing political dynamics that are shaping those policies. 

Meet the speakers 

Michael Jacobs is Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield, and professorial fellow at the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute. Among his previous roles, Michael was a Special Adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2007-2010, with responsibility for energy, environment and climate policy. He specialises in post-neoliberal political economy, climate change and environmental policy, and green and social democratic thought.

Juliette Sanders is Director of Strategic Communications at Energy UK, the trade association for the UK energy industry. She holds a Masters in manufacturing engineering, and has over a decade of experience working in media and communications roles in the UK energy sector, including previously for EDF, Orsted, and Equinor. Juliette is passionate about inspiring and developing others in the energy sector and is a founding member of the TIDE Taskforce – set up to improve Equity, Diversity and Inclusion across the energy industry.

Shaun Spiers is Executive Director of the think tank Green Alliance. Previously, he was chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, for 13 years, and from 1994 to 1999 was MEP for London South East, serving on the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. His book, How to Build Houses and Save the Countryside, was published by Policy Press in 2018.

Chair: Dr Fergus Green is Lecturer in Political Theory & Public Policy in the UCL Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy.


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Recording

This event will be recorded and the video will be uploaded to our YouTube channel.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channel to be alerted when the recording is uploaded.


Accessibility

There is step free access into the lecture theatre(s).
The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the lecture theatre(s).
There are designated spaces for wheelchair users within the lecture theatre(s).
There is space for an assistance dog.
There is a hearing assistance system for the lecture theatre(s).
There is not a visual fire alarm beacon in the lecture theatre(s).

More info can be found here.

Other events in this series