Attendees heard directly from the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Governor of the Bank of England, alongside a series of expert-led policy breakout sessions. A Green Innovation breakout session, delivered through BCC’s partnership with Heathrow, explored the opportunities that low carbon technologies offer both the UK and the global market.
From nuclear and wind to carbon capture to solar, the UK is home to a breadth of growing low carbon technologies which are playing an increasingly vital role in the UK’s energy mix.
According to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, the UK’s net zero economy has grown by 10% in the past year, generating over £80 billion in Gross Value Added to the UK.
Chaired by Professor Miranda Barker OBE, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, the panel included experts from Heathrow, the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (formerly IEMA), the Climate Change Committee and isentra.
Together, they examined the barriers that are preventing businesses in the UK from commercialising or from developing these technologies.
Key barriers include:
- Access to innovation funding, including the gap between businesses developing a prototype for a low carbon technology product and building an initial customer base. This is key to supporting businesses through the whole process of commercialisation and getting their product to market;
- Policy obstacles and under-utilised drivers,such as planning and procurement, waste, and grid connections delays;
- Green skills, with a need to ensure we have the skilled workers who will be critical to driving the development of low carbon technologies in the UK and beyond.
Building on from the success of this panel event at GAC, the British Chambers of Commerce is developing a policy report with clear, evidence-based recommendations to unlock the full potential of low carbon technologies.
This will be published in the Autumn, in the run-up to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and BCC looks forward to continuing its engagement with the Government on this vital work.
