A key priority for 2021 is accelerating action on climate change to help us create a greener, cleaner energy future. Here our CEO John Pettigrew outlines why this year is set to be pivotal to addressing the climate challenge and building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year will be remembered in all sorts of ways. When it comes to climate change, the political and business will for taking action was strong and growing. Targets have been set, commitments announced and investment plans and roadmaps drawn up. There are clear ambitions to make progress in zero-carbon technologies, such as CCUS; all backed by strong consumer support to shift to clean energy.
Accelerating action on climate change now hinges not only on consensus among nations, governments, business, regulators and consumers on how to achieve this goal, but with demonstrable action on the ground.
I know we have an important role to play in the delivery of a cleaner future, which is why the energy transition and reaching net zero are top of our agenda. Our continued work to connect more renewables to the electricity grid, create charging infrastructure in the US and UK to enable wider adoption of electric vehicles, and develop and deploy new decarbonisation technologies, are all critical to this.
As we look ahead, here are five key things I think we need to watch for this year:
I’m acutely aware that we need a long-term policy and regulatory framework that will drive necessary private sector investment in energy infrastructure. This is critical to ensure both a green economic recovery and a fair and just transition. Without the right investment, progress towards net zero could stall and, in 2021, that’s simply not an option with so much at stake.