Net Zero Isn’t Impossible, It’s The Key To UK Prosperity — Ep202: Emma Pinchbeck

The UK is an extraordinary case study in how to cut greenhouse
gas pollution successfully. Since 1990, the country has more than
halved its greenhouse gas emissions, while the economy has grown
by over 80%. 


The Climate Change Act, passed in 2008, has helped steer the UK
towards its net-zero goals, setting five yearly carbon budgets
that are specifically designed to be ambitious but flexible, with
lots of options available to the government to meet the
targets. 


Joining this week’s episode of Cleaning Up is Emma Pinchbeck, the
new CEO of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the organisation
which advises the government on the route it should take to net
zero. 


Emma spent close to a decade leading the UK’s energy sector trade
association, and is now responsible for producing advice on the
UK's final three carbon budgets. In February, the CCC published
the seventh carbon budget, which covers the period centred around
the year 2040. 


Emma joins Bryony Worthington to talk about the progress the UK
is making in meeting its carbon targets, the challenges ahead,
and why it's so important the UK holds the course, even if others
have chosen to abandon their climate ambitions.


Leadership Circle:


Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its
founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, Davidson Kempner,
EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini
Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature
Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on
the Leadership Circle, please visit
https://www.cleaningup.live. 


Links:


The 7th Carbon Budget:
https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/the-seventh-carbon-budget/

Emma’s previous appearance on Cleaning Up:
https://youtu.be/66flrmMEmso