Traders are being encouraged to send in their views on the practicalities of the UK’s move to net zero, following the government’s announcement of a new public review on the policy.
Chris Skidmore MP is calling on businesses to provide evidence on the government’s approach to reducing UK carbon emissions as part of an independent ‘Net Zero Review’ which he is chairing.
Skidmore has been asked to lead the review by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new head of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Burden
The government has announced that it is running the review to “ensure that delivering the net zero target does not place undue burdens on businesses or consumers”.
The review will liaise with key stakeholders including “investors, industry and experts in different fields” and will include roundtables and direct meetings.
The consultation will conclude on 27 October at 11.45pm.
Trade’s important role
Kevin Shakespeare, the director of special projects and international development of the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT), told the Daily Update that he looked forward to sharing the views of traders about the move to net zero with the government.
He said:
“As an interlocutor between government and industry, the IOE&IT will be relentless in pushing international trade as being at the forefront of both growing the UK economy and moving it to net zero.
“It’s been proven time and time again that businesses that trade internationally are more innovative and more sustainable.
“The move to net zero will undoubtedly present new challenges to business, but we believe that a clear ‘green trade’ policy agenda – including a significant emphasis on digitalising trade and customs processes – can meet these head on.
“We encourage our members and the wider international trade community to get in touch to share their thoughts on how government can support trade in the new net zero era.”
Green trade
The Department for International Trade’s Board of Trade has previously written that the UK should take the lead in the global move to net zero because the country could then export the technologies and skills it uses to do this globally.
The former international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan also argued that a green trade policy agenda would allow the UK to “de-Putinise” its economy and ensure greater economic prosperity.
Labour’s green pitch
The opposition Labour Party last week vowed to put “green exports” at the heart of its international trade policies.
The shadow international trade secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds announced to the party’s conference in Liverpool that a Labour government would create a “nationwide network of climate export hubs”.
Get in touch
The IOE&IT acts as an interlocutor between its members, the wider trader community and the government on UK economic and trade policy.
To submit your views and feedback on the Net Zero Review, please contact us at clientservices@export.org.uk.