PM outlines ten point plan for ‘green revolution’

In an announcement made earlier today, Boris Johnson has pledged £12bn worth of investment to help transition the UK to a net-zero economy.

The Prime Minister has said that the ten-point plan will focus on developing on the UK’s strengths. With a focus on renewable energy, the PM reiterated his plans to power every single home with off-shore wind energy by 2030.

The government also pledged to scale up the UK’s hydrogen industry, with an aim to develop the first-ever town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of this decade.

Chris Jackson, chair of the UK Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association highlighted: ‘It’s fantastic to see the Prime Minister committing to the incredible opportunity that hydrogen can provide for decarbonising the UK economy.

‘But it is crucial that the government ensures that green hydrogen, and notably electrolysis, is at the front and centre of the hydrogen sector.’

As part of this ‘green revolution’, the government will also spend £525m to advance the UK’s investment into nuclear energy as a clean fuel, which the PM has said could support up to 10,000 jobs.

Transport is also a key part of the plan. The government will bring forward the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by a decade to 2030.

Making cycling, public transport and walking more attractive will also be key as well as supporting the aviation and shipping industry to decarbonise.

Boris Johnson also announced plans for the UK to become a ‘world leader’ in carbon capture technology, with an aim to remove 10MT of carbon dioxide by 2030.

An extra £200 million of new funding will be used to create two carbon capture clusters this decade, with a further two projects set to be created by 2030.

Boris Johnson said: ‘Although this year has taken a very different path to the one we expected, I haven’t lost sight of our ambitious plans to level up across the country. My Ten Point Plan will create, support and protect hundreds of thousands of green jobs, whilst making strides towards net-zero by 2050.’

However, Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth warned that the plan still falls short: ‘Despite a number of positive commitments, the Prime Minister’s 10 point plan falls far short of the ambitious policy overhaul needed to demonstrate real global leadership on the climate crisis.

‘A much bolder approach is needed if the UK is to create the hundreds of thousands of new green jobs and other benefits that building a cleaner, safer future will bring.

‘We have the ability to build a zero-carbon future, but we need tough and urgent action from our politicians at all levels – and with the world spinning towards catastrophic climate change we don’t have time to waste.’

Photo Credit –  Pixabay