Net zero in seven steps: report sets out cross-cutting reccomendations for policymakers

Net zero. It's the goal that the water and environment industry, like many others, are striving to work towards as part of a package of measures to combat climate change. But how do we get there?

A new report from Energy Systems Catapult – an independent, not-for-profit net zero innovation and technology centre – has attempted to answer just this.

They have outlined seven recommendations that 'will help to maintain UK global leadership on climate action' in the run up to COP26 and beyond.

They are as follows:

1. Commit to establishing a Carbon Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification and Accounting Regulator

2. Commit to expanding the scope of the UK Emissions Trading System to cover heating and road transport emissions

3. Commit to fully adopting long-term carbon performance standards in the buildings sector by 2035.

4. Commit to adopting a Net Zero emissions by 2035 policy driver for the electricity sector

5. Commit to developing an enduring set of incentives for deep industrial decarbonisation with appropriate mechanisms to mitigate competitiveness impacts

6. Commit to linking new agricultural reward schemes to the adoption of climate friendly farming practices and land use changes

7. Commit to creating a linked Greenhouse Gas Removals Marketplace to deal with up to ~100 MtCO2e of residual emissions annually by 2050.

Commenting on the above Energy Systems Catapult carbon policy practice manager, Dr Danial Sturge, said: “While many countries have followed the UK’s lead in adopting Net Zero emissions targets, few if any have implemented sufficiently robust policies to drive the investment and innovation at anything like the required pace and scale.

“Stable and enduring policies that cover all key emitting economic sectors and reward investment and innovation in reducing emissions will be needed. Aligning market incentives across the economy should be a central part of the UK’s Net Zero Strategy.

“The COP Presidency provides us with a unique position, an opportunity, to move the debate forward and to accelerate global progress. By ramping up our own ambition and implementing approaches such as those discussed in this briefing, the UK can continue to lead by example and provide the framework for UK businesses and innovators to thrive in a global market.”

More on net zero:

South West Water and Welsh Water join UN-backed Race to Zero as it marks 1st anniversary

The missing link - the role of water efficiency in reaching net zero