A report released by Business and Energy secretary Greg Clark has revealed an ambitious strategy on how the UK leads the world in cutting carbon emissions to combat climate change, while driving economic growth. Titled 'The Clean Growth Strategy: Leading the Way to a Low Carbon Future', it talks about the country's strong progress to date.
Clark said, “This government has put clean growth at the heart of its Industrial Strategy to increase productivity, boost people's earning power and ensure Britain continues to lead the world in efforts to tackle climate change. For the first time in a generation, the British government is leading the way on taking decisions on new nuclear, rolling out smart meters and investing in low carbon innovation. The world is moving from being powered by polluting fossil fuels to clean energy. It's as big a change as the move from the age of steam to the age of oil and Britain is showing the way.”
Carbon emissions in the UK have fallen and national income risen faster than any other G7 nation. The UK government seeks to make the whole country benefit from low carbon economic opportunities through the creation of new technologies and new businesses that creates jobs. Climate Change and Industry Minister Claire Perry said, “The impact of the Paris agreement and the unstoppable global shift towards low carbon technologies gives the UK an unparalleled opportunity. By focusing on Clean Growth, we can cut the cost of energy, drive economic prosperity, create high value jobs and improve our quality of life.”
The administrations' initiative to reduce carbon emissions through support for renewable energy and energy efficiency measures have helped reduce average consumer energy bills and more than offset the cost of government support for low carbon technologies. The progress was confirmed in a report by PwC, which demonstrated the country is strongly outperforming its peers within the G20 according to its Low Carbon Economy Index. The report showed UK decarbonising faster than any other G20 nation, and revealed that it achieved a decarbonisation rate of 7.7 per cent last year.
The government recently announced a taskforce of senior financial experts to accelerate growth of green finance in the country's low carbon economy. The team has been given six months to deliver ambitious proposals to accelerate investment in the transition to a low carbon economy, creating high-value jobs and opportunities for UK businesses.
CEO Siemens plc, Juergen Maier said, “Clean growth is a good growth and the UK has a great opportunity to lead. Siemens welcomes the launch of the government's Clean Growth Strategy which sets a clear direction for business and puts decarbonisation at the heart of the industrial strategy.
