Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 24/09/21.
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee Questions Kwasi Kwarteng: UK Gas Market – UK Parliament
21 September 2021. On Wednesday morning from 10.30am, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee will be holding an evidence hearing examining the current issues affecting the UK gas market and Government measures to support the energy industry and protect consumers:
Press release: £220 million to help big-emitting industries reduce fossil fuel use – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
22 September 2021. Businesses in some of the UK’s most polluting industries will be able to bid for a share of £220 million to help cut their carbon emissions:
Link: £220 million to help big-emitting industries reduce fossil fuel use
News: UK’s first Green Gilt raises £10bn for environmental projects – Current News
22 September 2021, Molly Lempriere. In the UK’s first Green Gilt, £10 billion has been raised for projects like zero-emissions buses, offshore wind and schemes to decarbonise homes and buildings in this financial year:
Link: https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/uks-first-green-gilt-raises-10bn-for-environmental-projects
News: UK’s retrofit industry must grow by ten times to play role in reaching net-zero – Edie.net
22 September 2021. The UK’s retrofitting industry needs to grow by ten times its current size if the UK is to decarbonise its housing stock at a pace suitable for the wider net-zero emissions target, new research has revealed:
House of Commons Debate: Text of Ministerial Statement and debate on the UK Gas Market – Parallel Parliament
20 September 2021. Text of Ministerial Statement and debate on the UK Gas Market. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Kwasi Kwarteng):
Research briefing: Aviation, decarbonisation and climate change – House of Commons Library
20 September 2021. The aviation industry has been under long-term pressure to reduce its contribution to climate change – from governments, stakeholders and the public. This briefing paper provides an overview and analysis of UK and international policies to decarbonise the aviation sector, including market-based measures, technological solutions and demand management:
Link: Aviation, decarbonisation and climate change
Research and analysis: Cooling in the UK – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
17 September 2021. A research study to project future cooling demand for the UK based on a warming climate:
Link: Cooling in the UK
News: Statement following meetings between the Business and Energy Secretary and energy industry – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP
18 September 2021. The Business and Energy Secretary has met senior executives from the energy industry to discuss the impact of high gas prices:
Link: Statement following meetings between the Business and Energy Secretary and energy industry
News: UK gas supplier explainer – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
18 September 2021. This sets out the background to the wholesale gas prices issue and the action government is taking to protect the UK’s energy supply, industry, and consumers:
Link: UK gas supply explainer
News: Gas price rises prompt urgent government talks – BBC News Online
19 September 2021, Malu Cursino & Alex Kleiderman. The government is holding urgent talks with representatives from the energy industry amid growing concern about a spike in wholesale gas prices:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58605735
News: Fears for UK recovery as record energy prices shut fertiliser plants – Guardian Online
16 September 2021, Jillian Ambrose. Steelmakers warn of unprofitability and an extra half a million homes face falling into fuel poverty:
Blog: Climate Change risk: Are We Doing Enough, Fast Enough? – National Audit Office
13 September 2021, Chris Coyne. “The world is now living through climate change, not watching it draw near” is the stark warning delivered by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), in its sixth assessment report (AR6):
Link: Climate Change risk: Are We Doing Enough, Fast Enough? | NAO blog
News: Just one country on course to meet 1.5C target, new research warns – Edie.net
15 September 2021. Only Gambia is currently on course to deliver climate action that is in alignment with the 1.5C pathway of the Paris Agreement, according to new research from Climate Action Tracker (CAT), which warns that momentum on updating climate targets has stalled:
Link: https://www.edie.net/news/9/Just-one-country-on-course-to-meet-1-5C-target–new-research-warns/
News: UK to offer £265m in subsidies for renewable energy developers – Guardian Online
13 September 2021, Jillian Ambrose. Wind, solar and tidal projects will compete for contracts, including funding for onshore schemes:
Press release: Biggest ever renewable energy support scheme backed by additional £265 million – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP
13 September 2021. Details of how the UK will get more electricity from renewable sources will be published today, as the Government announces the biggest-ever round of its flagship renewable energy scheme:
Link: Biggest ever renewable energy support scheme backed by additional £265 million
News: Government’s plans for decarbonising heavy industry ‘not enough to meet net-zero’, businesses warn – Edie.net
9 September 2021. The Government’s recent Hydrogen Strategy and updated Industrial Strategy do not provide enough information on – or support for – decarbonising in line with net-zero, businesses including Liberty Steel and Cemex are warning: