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Our environmental dependencies

Dependencies to achieving our targets

There are a number of policy and regulatory dependencies we need in the future in order for us to make investments to support the decarbonisation of the energy sector as well as help reduce our own emissions. For example, we will need planning and permitting changes in the UK and US, as well as policies to further promote energy efficiency and the use of low-carbon fuels in the US. Without support from our policymakers and regulators, delivering our emissions reductions will be challenging.  

Our scenarios are based on what we know and can reasonably assume today. They are not all linear, reflecting our analysis that getting to net zero by 2050 will be uneven. For example, we expect natural gas to act as a transition fuel for our US customers until they choose to switch to using electricity. Consequently, it’s possible that we won’t see measurable reductions until the end of this decade and into the early 2030s, with support required from policymakers and regulators to achieve this.  
 

Key dependencies to decarbonising electricity in the UK:  

  • Reform the planning system, centred around a strategic clean energy vision
  • Ensure the regulatory and governance framework is set up for delivery
  • Transform how clean energy connects to the grid, accelerating net zero projects
  • Put communities and consumers at the forefront of the transition
  • Develop supply chain capacity and a skills pipeline across the country

 

Key dependencies to decarbonising electricity and gas in the US:  

  • Accelerate investments to modernise, expand and optimise the electric system to connect renewables and enable electrification of transportation and heating.
  • Expand energy efficiency strategies and programmes to increase customer adoption and help decarbonise all homes and businesses  
  • Implement new policies to decarbonise heat for buildings and industry and help advance fossil-free fuels to replace natural gas
  • Ensure families and businesses can afford their energy bills and easily access available energy savings and assistance programmes
  • Educate and train our communities to succeed and secure jobs in the clean energy economy and provide opportunities for local, diverse businesses to grow and thrive

 
Find out more about dependencies in this video with our UK Sustainability Manager, Steve Thompson and US Environmental Sustainability Director, Michael DeNoia.