Thread by @BDavisBriz

Looking forward to digitally tuning in to the official launch of the Net Zero Review report #MissionZeroLaunch

https://twitter.com/CSkidmoreUK/status/1614387866607718401

First, @KingsCollegeLon President Prof Shitij Kapur welcomes the launch of the report. He highlights the role that universities can play in delivering the #NetZero agenda, both as a research institution & as a convenor of national & local stakeholders #MissionZeroLaunch

Next, BEIS Minister @grahamstuart welcomes the report. Sets out the Government's Net Zero strategy. He says he was the first Conservative MP to call for Net Zero & welcomes the fact Skidmore was previously the Minister to sign Net Zero into law #MissionZeroLaunch

Stuart highlights how Net Zero has economic & social benefits, as well as the obvious economic ones. He notes that the aftermath of #Coronavirus & the impact of the war in Ukraine show how vital delivering Net Zero will be #MissionZeroLaunch

Stuart notes that there are "many routes to #NetZero", all with their own political & economic consequences. Says it was against this backdrop that Skidmore was asked to conduct his review #MissionZeroLaunch

Stuart congratulates Skidmore on his work during the review. Welcomes the fact that the review highlights the progress already made on delivering Net Zero & concludes that Net Zero is "the economic opportunity of the century" #MissionZeroLaunch

Turning to next steps, Stuart highlights the Energy Security Bill, Green Finance Bill, Electric Vehicle Strategy, Emissions Trading Scheme and Net Zero Research & Delivery Plan as govt actions to deliver on the Net Zero strategy #MissionZeroLaunch

Now @CSkidmoreUK officially launches the Net Zero Review, now officially titled "Mission Zero". He expresses his thanks to the review team for all their work #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore addresses the length of the report; noting that the breadth of evidence received across consultations, events and site visits warranted "a report that would embrace the breadth of the opportunity of Net Zero" across the nations of the UK #MissionZeroLaunch

Looking back at his time as BEIS Minister, Skidmore expresses his pride at being the Minister to sign Net Zero into law. Welcomes the fact that conducting the review has allowed him to return to a policy that he is very interested in #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore believes that it was the UK's commitment to sign Net Zero into law, and its subsequent COP Presidency, that has created a "global tipping point" with other major countries "following the UK's lead" #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore highlights how, across the globe, world leaders are recognising Net Zero's ability to both deliver on environmental goals, but also regenerate local economies & communities #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore says that 2022, and the invasion of #Ukraine highlighted our dependency on fossil fuels and foreign energy providers - this, he says, has shown the urgency of building momentum behind Net Zero #MissionZeroLaunch

Turning to the outcomes of the review, Skidmore says the report shows that the UK urgently needs to speed up its commitment to Net Zero, allowing UK businesses to make the most of opportunities & investment in green innovative technologies #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore says the "Net Zero Path" to growth will allow the UK to unlock the international investment associated with low-carbon growth, whereas the "Not Zero Path" will mean we "turn our backs" on these opportunities. He urges Govt to take the "Net Zero Path" #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore says that, even if there was not a #ClimateCrisis, adopting Net Zero will leave communities "warmer & richer" through the uptake of low-cost, low-carbon forms of heating & energy #MissionZeroLaunch

Turning to the second half to the review, Skidmore explains the "Six Pillars" approach. Of all of them, Skidmore argues the pillar on delivery is the most important - setting out how to ensure there is certainty around resources & finance to achieve our goals #MissionZeroLaunch

As well as the opportunities presented by Net Zero, Skidmore says he hopes that his team have given equal weight to the barriers to delivery highlighted by the evidence. Calls on Govt to act on recommendations to alleviate these barriers before 2025 #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore also calls on the government to launch "ten ten-year missions" to deliver on the various aspects of the Net Zero agenda, shifting towards a longer-term vision, rather than short-term investments #MissionZeroLaunch

In particular, Skidmore calls for an increased uptake in Nature-Based solutions, and exploring the potential of the circular economy #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore is also particularly excited by the potential of solar, onshore wind, heat pumps and retrofitting for delivering Net Zero, as well as wider economic and social benefits #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore notes that 2050 is only "323 months away", arguing that the longer we delay on our activities to deliver Net Zero to 2050 - saying that inaction will lead to increased costs & missed investment opportunities as global investment goes elsewhere #MissionZeroLaunch

In conclusion, Skidmore welcomes the engagement that he has seen throughout the review. He welcomes the fact that Net Zero is "already happening on the ground" & expresses his hope that the Govt will work to support them deliver in a joined-up way across UK #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore now takes Qs from the audience #MissionZeroLaunch

When asked when to expect a response Skidmore hopes to receive one by the end of March. He notes that while there is deliverables for this current administration to deliver before GE, he has worked to ensure there is cross-party consensus on delivering Net Zero #MissionZeroLaunch

On how to stimulate pace of delivery while working cross-departmentally, Skidmore proposes an Office for Net Zero Delivery, which would sit either with BEIS or the Cabinet Office to help streamline delivery across all of Whitehall #MissionZeroLaunch

On the impact of #Brexit on dealing with Climate Change, Skidmore notes that he is due to brief 🇪🇺 energy attachés on the Mission Zero report and that there is still shared commonalities over the interest of joint activities to delivering on Net Zero #MissionZeroLaunch

Skidmore uses "Energy Sovereignty vs Energy Security" as an example, noting that the latter will require international collaboration to achieve common goals & decarbonise supply chains, rather than each country "closing borders" #MissionZeroLaunch

On what support there would be for individual homeowners, Skidmore notes that most of the costs involved would need to be borne anyway (eg replacing boilers), but Net Zero can allow this to be done in a way that achieves climate reduction & lower costs #MissionZeroLaunch

On grid decarbonisation, Skidmore says that our current grid infrastructure is antiquated. Calls for Ofgem to place greater relevance for Net Zero & to unlock planning processes to make grid connections more sustainable #MissionZeroLaunch

Final Q is on his opinion of HMT's appetite for investment, Skidmore notes that energy reduction is already "baked in" to Energy Bill & Chancellor's previous announcements. Says we now need a more long-term vision for investments #MissionZeroLaunch

The session now moves on to a panel discussion #MissionZeroLaunch

When asked what the most important policy announcement in the report is, @ChiefExecUK100_ welcomes the commitment to empowering local govt & local communities in delivering on the Net Zero agenda #MissionZeroLaunch

In particular, Billington welcomes the proposals to move away competitive bidding ("where money is spent applying for unsuccessful bids for money") and building political consensus rather than politicising the environmental agenda #MissionZeroLaunch

Next @NinaSkorupska welcomes the fact that all six of the report's pillars cut across the work of the REA's members. She hopes that the government will respond positively to the report, given the sheer number of deliverables in the report for this year #MissionZeroLaunch

When asked her opinion, @LBGAmbWales welcomes the fact that the report is cross-sectoral, showing the importance of every part of the economy working together to deliver on Net Zero #MissionZeroLaunch

Finally, @nationalgrid's Ben Wilson welcomes the report's focus on investments in grids, noting for every £ invested in renewables we need another £ invested in the grid infrastructure. Calls on a more net-zero-centric approach to investment #MissionZeroLaunch

Next the panel are asked the economic opportunities. Heaton welcomes the significant opportunities for investment in offshore wind, but also investment in people & skills through schemes such as retrofitting #MissionZeroLaunch

Skorupska hopes that the review will lead to certainty in policy. Says if businesses & organisations have clarity from Govt that the investments are coming & there is a supportive policy ecosystem then the investment in places & people will come #MissionZeroLaunch

Billington welcomes the report highlighting that investment in mitigation leads to higher savings compared to adaption. She states that allowing investment at local level "gives greater bang for your buck" compared to investment made at Westminster level #MissionZeroLaunch

Wilson says that energy transition will create 400k new jobs. With the majority of them being outside of London & SE, he believes Net Zero can also contribute to the #LevellingUp agenda. Breaking link with gas will also lower consumers' energy bills #MissionZeroReview

On how to deliver on the "Big Bang Moment" proposed on the review, Skorupska says the UK needs to learn lessons from other countries that have already overcome the barriers faced & provide clarity in policy so people know what £ is available #MissionZeroReview

Billington believes that the proposed Office For Net Zero Delivery will require Govt departments & Quangos to have a more Net-Zero-Centric view of policies & investments. Also calls for the office have greater than proposed engagement with local communities #MissionZeroReview

Wilson welcomes the fact that the review proposes how to "land policies already in flight", such as planning law reforms, community investments consultations and how to reform the connections review process #MissionZeroReview

Heaton notes that capital & finance is actually already available, but govt needs to get better at promoting what funding pots are available, as well as providing long-term certainty of policy goals to allow certainty around investment #NetZeroReview

Panel is asked what they believe Govt should priorities in terms of infrastructure investment. Wilson calls for allowing "investment on an anticipatory basis", which should remove risk of underinvestment, & more flexibility to connect fast-moving projects #NetZeroReview

Billington calls for a simplifying of the funding process. Notes that many local authorities are already strapped for cash & resources, which disincentives participating in competitive process & unfairly favours "authorities with good bid writers" #NetZeroReview

On placemaking, Billington also notes there is no one place where all net zero initiatives can be sandboxed. Calls for greater flexibility in terms of backing trailblazers & disseminating of innovation across the country #NetZeroReview

Skorupska highlights the wealth of knowledge in the UK, all of must be used to deliver on Net Zero. Says that there needs to be a greater focus on land use, especially ways in which we can bring more people into the discussions #NetZeroReview

Heaton says there is significant investment opportunities for Net Zero. However, she believes focus on #Energy important as it is the thread that runs through everything - from transport, to energy, to housing, to wellbeing #NetZeroReview

On how to scale up local projects, Billington calls for a Net Zero Local Powers Bill which will give local authorities the powers & frameworks to invest in community projects, and help scale them up to deliver results on a national scale #NetZeroReview

Wilson agrees, noting that local authorities are often a most trusted political authority, and that this trust should be built upon, particularly on the housing transition. Heaton adds local lens important for investment in jobs & skills #NetZeroReview

On the green homes grant, Skorupska says that this highlights the danger of "stop-start" policies. However, Billington notes it also highlights the benefits of LAs delivering projects, as they were better placed to targeting money where it was needed #NetZeroReview

Final Q is on what 1 lesson Govt should take:
Wilson: Planning reform
Heaton: Policy consistency
Skorupska: Streamlining of evidence across select committees
Billington: Swift establishment of the Office of Net Zero Delivery & creation of Local Powers Bill
#MissionZeroLaunch

Interesting discussion on findings & next steps of Mission Zero report.
Congratulations @CSkidmoreUK on this valuable report. Thanks to @grahamstuart @ChiefExecUK100_ @NinaSkorupska @LBGAmbWales & Ben Wilson for your insights & to @KingsCollegeLon for hosting! #MissionZeroLaunch

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