UCL Policy & Practice seminar series 2024
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.
In this event we consider what the transition to net zero demands of the UK in terms of infrastructure, technology and behaviour change, the major parties' policies, and the changing political dynamics that are shaping those policies.
