Actuate UK welcomes critical Net Zero report at five year anniversary

Engineering services alliance, Actuate UK,  warmly welcomes the landmark report ‘At a Crossroads: Pathways to a Net Zero Future’ published by the Mission Zero Coalition. The report throws a spotlight on clean energy and power generation. The engineering services industry, as part of the supply chain, are key to delivering this aspect of the UK’s net zero ambitions. Actuate UK contributed content of the report as a supporter of the Misson Zero Coalition.

The report was launched on 27^th June by the Coalition’s chair, The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE, former Energy Minister who signed the UK’s Net Zero by 2025 into law in 2019 – 5 years ago.

The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE commented: 

"The launch of our new report, ‘At a Crossroads’ marked the fifth anniversary of signing net zero into law. The report brings together a Coalition of businesses, industry network organisations and policy experts. On Thursday, we will see whoever forms the next government need to prioritise the net zero transition further and faster than ever before if we are to meet our target of decarbonising 68% by 2030. The report provides a comprehensive roadmap on what needs to happen not only in the next five years, but in the next 100 days and one year. I hope that the incoming government will use it as a template to deliver what we need to achieve to meet net zero. 

I am extremely grateful for the support and contribution that Actuate U.K. have made as members of the Power Generation Network of the Mission Zero Coalition. They have played an active and important role in shaping the report and its recommendations and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work together."

Andrew Eldred, ECA’s Chief Operating Officer, one of Actuate UK’s members, who contributed to the report, said:

“We commend the ‘At a Crossroads’ to the incoming government. The report represents the views of a broad range of voices responsible for delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. As such it offers clear guidance on the path to tread to achieve those goals. As demand rises for solar, wind, and other low carbon tech. we need more, well qualified electrical engineers. Increasing robust training programmes and a providing strong pipeline to support employment in the field must be the first steps for the new government."

NOTES

1. Actuate UK is an alliance of six leading technology, trade and professional bodies from across the UK engineering services sector. The alliance comprises of:

• The Building Engineering Services Association(BESA)
• The Building Services Research and Information Association(BSRIA)
• The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers(CIBSE)
• ECA - Electrical and Engineering Services/The Fire and Security Association
• The Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA)
• The Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA)

2. The UK engineering services sector comprises over 60,000 firms and over 350,000 skilled professionals, employees and contractors. It comprises some 40% of UK construction by value, with over £100 billion pounds of additional turnover annually, through the provision of ongoing infrastructure and facilities services. You can read the Actuate UK Manifesto here: https://www.actuateuk.org.uk/policy-areas/  

3. The Independent Review of Net Zero, was commissioned by the UK Government and chaired by the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE. ‘Mission Zero’, a 340-page report containing 129 recommendations was launched on 13 January 2023. The Mission Zero Coalition was launched in March 2023 to build momentum from the Mission Zero report and provide a platform for exchanging insights, experiences and ideas on Net Zero policy development for the UK.  The Coalition has brought together key stakeholders within ‘Mission Zero Networks’, which are based on the ten missions laid out in the Independent Review that are critical to the UK meeting its Net Zero commitments.  More on this work and published report here.

4. The report ‘At a Crossroads: Pathways to a Net Zero Future’ can be downloaded here and the video from the launch is available on: https://youtu.be/rvJWP98GWeg

5. For more information on Actuate UK please contact:  Maria Balermpa on 07508 559231 email: Maria.Balermpa@ActuateUK.org.uk