Chamber strongly endorses Skidmore review and the need to fast forward on Net Zero agenda – especially in the Humber

FORMER Conservative Energy Minister, Chris Skidmore MP, has published a powerful review on how the UK can deliver and implement net zero policies effectively and efficiently across the country, making more than 130 recommendations in his 330-page report.

Chamber Chief Executive, Dr Ian Kelly, welcomed the report from the former Energy Minister. “Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero review reflects exactly what Humber businesses are thinking about the economic opportunities and the environmental need to go much further and faster as we seek to move from the dirtiest carbon cluster region in the UK towards being an exemplar of best practice.

“The stop start policies of the last few years on green investment must now be replaced by calm consistent but increasingly speedy policy making by our new Prime Minister and indeed Labour if they win the next election.”

The Skidmore report reinforces many of the points made by Humber business leaders to the Shadow Energy Secretary Ed Miliband when he visited the Chamber’s head office in Hull recently. Mr Miliband, was impressed by the ambition of energy and renewables business leaders in the Humber to cut their carbon outputs and promised to support efforts to speed things up in Westminster and Whitehall. Full story Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce (hull-humber-chamber.co.uk)

The Hull and Humber Chamber is among those leading on tackling the carbon zero agenda of the 53 Chambers in the UK network given the scale of heavy industry and energy activity on the Humber banks.

Alex Veitch, the Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the BCC, also said: “The review published by Chris Skidmore is a significant document and provides us with a substantive overview of the progress to date on meeting the UK’s Net Zero ambition. 

“Importantly, it includes recommendations on what must be done. Many of these measures are pragmatic and realistic, which will be welcomed by businesses.  

“The British Chambers of Commerce has long campaigned for the Government to provide SMEs with energy saving support and advice. It is good to see this action included in today's report.  

"We also welcome the focus on the importance of decentralised decision making in the fight against climate change. More and more Net Zero action will have to take place locally and regionally over the coming years. This report emphasises how power must be put into the hands of local communities in order to achieve our 2050 target.  

"Chambers of Commerce across the UK, like the Hull & Humber Chamber, were heavily involved in COP26 discussions, and they are proud of the role they are playing in making the UK a world leader in environmental sustainability. This review stresses the importance of retaining our global standing and Chambers of Commerce will continue to work hard to ensure the UK is a global pioneer in green innovation, technology and enterprise.    

"There remains a long way to go. For example, the report acknowledges pressures on SMEs to move to Net Zero, but more ambitious tax incentives than those proposed, and additional funding support, will be required to help address this.  

“We will be continuing to work with Government to ensure we meet the UK’s Net Zero target, and ensure businesses reap the many benefits along the way."