How should the UK respond as other countries shift towards green industries?

Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world. With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer pledging to hit ambitious emissions targets and make the UK a clean energy ‘superpower’, the net zero agenda will be a major issue at the next general election. So what needs to be done to switch the UK from being an economy powered by carbon to one that is near emissions free, and does the UK have a credible plan to hit its net zero targets? To explore these critical questions, and examine what government needs to do to meet its climate objectives, the Institute for Government brought together leading politicians and experts from the UK and beyond for a special net zero conference. The morning focused on whether the UK government has the right policies in place to cut emissions. And in the afternoon we examined government’s role in supporting green industries, following major subsidies announced by the US and the EU. This event explored how the UK should respond as other countries shift towards green industries. Speakers included: Elisabetta Cornago, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform Joss Garman, Executive Director of the European Climate Foundation Michael Liebreich, Chairman and CEO of Liebreich Associates Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former special adviser Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government (chair) With a brief introduction from Amanda Tickel, Head of Tax and Trade Policy at Deloitte.