IMechE responds to Climate Change Committee’s advice

IMechE Head of Policy Matt Rooney responds to the latest advice from the Climate Change Committee on how the UK can achieve Net Zero by 2050:

"The Climate Change Committee’s advice to the UK government on the Seventh Carbon Budget makes it clear that technology can progress fast enough to achieve emissions targets, but that policy needs to keep pace.

Government support for decarbonisation of high emissions sectors must be sustained until it can be led by the market. For example, in road transport, businesses and the public need to be convinced to make the switch to low emission vehicles. Incentives, including a successful roll-out of adequate and affordable charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, are required.

Low-carbon alternatives in all sectors must be seen to be more attractive to consumers and business.

Engineering will be crucial to growing the economy while also meeting decarbonisation targets. That is why the IMechE is calling for a National Engineering and Technology Workforce Strategy to ensure that we have the skilled people that will deliver Net Zero in the UK.”