“There is no time to waste. Today’s welcome report shows the need for faster action to both support delivery of the net zero target and to prepare for climate change. It recognises that targets alone do not deliver results and the scale of action required is unprecedented. Much of the UK’s existing and planned infrastructure will still be in place in 2050, and nearly one million homes will need to be retrofitted every year between now and 2050.
“With a year to go before the UK hopefully hosts the world’s leaders for COP26, and a new Government about to be unveiled, the timing is perfect to demonstrate that Government is about more than setting ambitious goals for the future, and as much about setting a sustained pace of delivery across all sectors. Every day that passes without tangible action to mitigate climate change contributes to increasing the severity of its impacts. For this reason, we support the CCC’s call for Government to embed a net zero philosophy across all levels of Government, to mandate businesses to disclose the financial risks they face from climate change and to take the public onboard this transition.
“With only one out of 25 of the headline policy actions put forward by the CCC last year deemed to be met, it may be time for Government to unleash the full potential of the UK’s engineers, planners and inventors on a national project of climate action.
“There are reasons to be cheerful. With the public and business community very much on board, policymakers will find very few obstacles as they move to the critical phase of delivery and implementation of the net zero target across all sectors of the economy.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Senior PR Executive Katie Brown on [email protected], 02030572228 / 07899776923
Notes to editors
About WSP
WSP is one of the world's leading engineering professional services consulting firms. We are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower. We are technical experts and strategic advisors including engineers, technicians, scientists, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. We design lasting solutions in the Property & Buildings, Transportation & Infrastructure, Environment, Industry, Resources (including Mining and Oil & Gas) and Power & Energy sectors as well as project delivery and strategic consulting services.
With more than 8200 talented people in the UK and approximately 48,000 globally, we engineer projects that will help societies grow for lifetimes to come. WSP has been involved in many high-profile UK projects including the re-development of London Bridge Station and Quarter, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, HS2, Transport for the North Strategic Development Corridor studies, One Blackfriars and the Shard.
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