As net zero meets growing resistance, we must do more to win the political argument, writes Mike Reader MP.
Net zero, once a point of consensus and national pride, is now becoming a casualty of toxic political debate.
Responsible action has helped reduce the carbon impact of infrastructure, not just for local communities, but for the global good. But increasingly, this progress is meeting resistance.
As calls grow to drop net-zero commitments in exchange for promises of quicker, cheaper project delivery, the UK risks losing ground on our global leadership of environmentally responsible infrastructure.
In response to this challenge, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure (APPGI) and the Net Zero APPG welcomed over 100 industry experts to a panel event last month. What we heard from this group was clear.
We face a new challenge. One of misinformation, diffused accountability, and a growing disregard for our global responsibility.
Parliamentarians, together with industry, civil society, unions, and communities, must now stand up and restate the case.
Net zero must be embedded into decision making, just as we treat safety, cost, time, and quality: not a nice-to-have bolt-on, but essential.
Encouragingly, our panel highlighted that the government is making progress.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill removes obstacles to delivering the electricity transmission network, reservoirs and infrastructure we need to support growth in the UK.
The Industrial Strategy sets out clear support for green power and the technological solutions we need to keep our competitive edge in the global race for growth.
And the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s electricity market reform and support for clean power mean that the goal of achieving net zero by 2050 remains achievable.
We must reframe net zero not as a barrier, but as a catalyst for delivering smarter, cleaner, and more resilient infrastructure.
Linking low-carbon delivery to tangible benefits that resonate with people’s daily lives is critical. That could be:
Honest, consistent communication should be front and centre of any argument for new infrastructure.
This must be coupled with consistent policy signals so the industry can plan and invest with confidence.
Empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), strengthening skills pipelines, and backing British innovation in clean technologies will ensure that the economic gains from net zero are shared across the country.
The challenge is clear, and so is the choice. We can retreat into short-term thinking that sacrifices environmental leadership for fleeting gains, or we can double down on delivering growth and sustainability hand in hand.
Politicians, business leaders, and communities must speak with one voice. Net zero isn’t an optional extra: it’s the foundation of a resilient, competitive economy.
Now is the moment to make the case, push back against misinformation, and commit to delivering the infrastructure that will secure our prosperity for generations to come.
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