Friday 9 September 2022

Chris Skidmore kicks off net zero UK tour

MP Chris Skidmore, who has been tasked with leading the government’s newly announced net zero review, has kicked off his tour at the HyNet cluster.

Addressing how she wishes to keep net zero a top priority during her time as Prime Minister, Liz Truss has given the responsibility of conducting a review into net zero to the former Energy and Climate Minister.

She labelled this review “pro-business and pro-growth.”

HyNet is an industrial decarbonisation cluster, projected to reduce carbon emissions by 10 million tonnes a year by 2030 – the same impact as removing four million cars from UK roads.

Following this visit, Mr Skidmore will travel to all 12 regions of the UK throughout the rest of the year.

He said: “HyNet will make a substantial impact on the UK’s drive to reach net zero. The project is a great example of how we can generate jobs and attract investment through net zero growth.

“Government must engage with hard-to-decarbonise sectors, supporting them to operate sustainably, both protecting the UK’s vital manufacturing base whilst, at the same time, enabling them to produce the low carbon products consumers are demanding. Net zero growth will allow our economy to thrive, whilst protecting our planet.”

David Parkin, Project Director of HyNet, added: “Industry contributes to approximately a fifth of all the UK’s carbon emissions and, in order to hit net zero, we must take rapid action.

“We are working with over 30 major companies access the Northwest industrial heartland, to slash their carbon emissions, safeguard jobs and catalyse economic growth.”