Energy Saving Trust welcomes UK Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy

Today (Wednesday 17 March), the UK Government unveiled a new low-carbon industrial sector strategy, supported by over £1 billion in funding to cut emissions from industry and public buildings.

The new Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy builds on the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in November last year. It sets out a vision for building a competitive and greener future for the UK’s manufacturing and construction sector.

The measures announced today are expected to create and support 80,000 jobs over the next 30 years, as well as cutting emissions by two-thirds in the next 15 years.

Commenting on the news, Stew Horne, head of policy at Energy Saving Trust, said: “We welcome the ambition of this new Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, which marks another important step on the UK’s pathway to net zero.

“This ambitious blueprint sets out where the focus of funding is required and tangible steps to help deliver the world’s first low-carbon industrial sector. It also provides greater clarity that the market requires for more investment in jobs, supply chains and financial models, further stimulating the UK’s green recovery.

“This leadership as the UK prepares to host COP 26 is significant; it signals that good progress is being made and accelerating our transition to a net zero society.”

Key elements of the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy include:

• Supporting existing industry to decarbonise and encouraging the growth of new, low carbon industries.
• Building on the UK’s efforts in moving towards greener energy sources, with an expectation of 20 terrawatt hours from low carbon alternatives to fossil fuels by 2030.
• Investing £171 million in nine green technology projects as part of the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge.
• Funding over 400 projects across England to reduce carbon emissions from public buildings, including hospitals, schools and council buildings.
• Introducing new rules to measure the energy and carbon performance of the UK’s largest commercial and industrial buildings, with the aim to reduce annual carbon emissions by over 2 million tonnes.

Read the full strategy on the UK Government website.