WSP reacts to UK Government’s adoption of CCC policy recommendations

David Symons, UK Director of Sustainability at WSP, said: “We certainly welcome the Government’s leadership in adopting the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget.  What is needed now is the detail on how the UK is really going to move forward and deliver these emissions targets. 

“The scale of the net zero transformation is massive – from how Britain travels to the food we eat, from how we heat our homes to how industry is powered. Beyond the targets, we need to see the detail of how Government will deliver these ambitions, not from 2035 but in 2021. We look forward to seeing the details in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, Buildings & Heat Strategy, the Treasury’s net zero review and the Hydrogen Strategy. All of these are due before the summer and must give a clear and funded roadmap to delivering these targets.

“We also see that it’s not just for Government to deliver net zero. Business has an important role in setting net zero strategies and, as WSP has done, set clear innovation and skills programmes in place to play our part in decarbonising their products and services.” 

Charles Haine, Technical Director, Environment and Maritime Sector Lead at WSP, said: “Bringing emissions from shipping into the UK’s greenhouse gas calculations was a must and it’s positive to see the Government make this move as we navigate towards COP26. The crux of this is whether new rules will be applied to vessels registered under a UK flag or all visiting ships. 

“What’s certain is that those in the supply chain will need to collaborate in more transparent terms, and that there will be wider interactions with retailers, port-cities and the body that is going to monitor this. We have a number of port and logistics clients who will be keen for advice on this new dynamic, particularly on operational changes they may well need to start planning for.”