The construction industry really can ‘build back better’
When production at Dewar’s Lane Granary in Berwick-upon-Tweed came to an end in 1985, the historic building was left empty and abandoned, and earmarked for demolition. Read more
Caterina Brandmayr
The PM’s “technological optimism” won’t be enough for a low carbon revolution
This post was first published in CityMetric.
Launching the countdown to the COP26 climate talks last week, the prime minister was right to say climate action presents a huge industrial opportunity, one that can drive “our national agenda of uniting and levelling up our country”. The UK’s success in renewable energy is a clear example of what real policy ambition can achieve. Read more
Putting local areas at the heart of the clean growth agenda
This blog was first posted on Business Green.
Cities and local areas are taking centre stage in the fight against climate change. With a growing number of councils declaring a climate emergency, local communities are not only making it clear that the low carbon transition needs to happen now, but that they also want to be a part of it. Read more
The UK could still lead the world in electric vehicles
This blog was first posted on CityMetric.
Amidst a gloomy series of announcements pointing to car manufacturers pulling out of the UK, there are still some signs that the future could be bright for the UK’s automotive industry. Read more
How global cities working together could become a major force for climate action
This week, world leaders meeting at the COP in Katowice are under pressure to act on the IPCC’s recent warning that to limit global warming to 1.5°C requires “rapid and far-reaching systems transitions occurring during the coming one to two decades, in energy, land, urban, and industrial systems.” Read more
Targeting construction emissions in London is a win win for carbon cutting and air quality
The Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco earlier this month highlighted just how much city and regional leaders want to move the climate agenda forward at a time when national governments are holding back. So what are the opportunities for London to get more ambitious? Read more
How recycling could make the UK a world leader in electric vehicles
The UK car industry is on edge, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders saying that Brexit uncertainty is threatening investments in Britain’s car industry. On top of this, there has been the long wait for the government’s Road to Zero strategy, which will set out how it proposes to reduce emissions from transport. The future of the sector seems to be in limbo, a situation that is unlikely to be attractive to any car manufacturers thinking of setting up shop in the UK. Read more
How UK tech leadership can enable a revolution in resource efficiency
A version of this article was published on Business Green.
The forthcoming industrial strategy white paper will set out the government’s plan to boost productivity and drive growth across the economy. If it is to be a success, it needs to grapple with two fundamental changes to the business environment.
Will the government give consumers the energy system they want?
Small scale technologies are shaking up the existing energy paradigm, where the only consumer choice is to decide which big and distant power company to buy from. This ignores rapid developments in solar panels, onshore wind, electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage. People are increasingly choosing to be energy owners, and are able to take back at least some control over energy production. Read more
Why environmentalists should be excited by the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
Under its new industrial strategy, the government has committed £4.7 billion for science and innovation until 2020 and has announced the creation of a new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). This will be modelled on the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as DARPA. For seasoned innovation thinkers, this is very good news. But what’s so exciting about DARPA? Read more
