MP supports government environment plans ahead of COP climate summit

This week the Government has announced its strategy to achieve ‘Net Zero’ by 2050, which it says will see the creation of thousands of green jobs, kick-start new British industries and build a more secure and home-grown energy system.

John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay, said:

“Britain is at the forefront of efforts to reduce climate change, decarbonising faster than any other G7 country with a 44% reduction in emissions between 1990-2019 while also growing the economy by 78% over that time. However, more remains to be done.

“The Net Zero strategy will ensure that no-one will be forced to rip out their current heating system or scrap their current car, and will ensure the biggest polluters pay the most for the transition to net zero through fair carbon pricing – once the spike in gas prices subsides.

“The strategy also envisages working closely with business to continue the run of cost reductions for green technology, bringing down the costs of net zero for individuals and businesses alike. It is also estimated that there will be an extra 190,000 green jobs by the mid-2020s and around 440,000 jobs across net zero sectors in 2030.

“The Government will also be taking steps to create a secure and home-grown energy sector which ends Britain’s dependency on volatile fossil fuel prices, protecting consumers and businesses. In addition to more generation from renewables, there will be a new focus on nuclear power generation – both from large-scale stations but also with significant investment in small modular reactors, which will benefit from reduced building costs and construction times while making no compromises on safety.”

Image: UK Parliament