Decarbonisation Summit Live
Decarbonisation Summit to hear call for acceleration of electric transport
A two-day forum for debate and discussion on decarbonisation, taking place during Cop26, will hear a call for both the private and public sectors to accelerate the electrification of transport in order to reach net zero.
The issue is one of many hot topics on the agenda at the Decarbonisation Summit, organised by SSE Energy Solutions and Green.TV Media, on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 November. The discussions will be live streamed.
Speakers include Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Robert Wigley, Chair of industry body UK Finance, and Jane Dennett-Thorpe, Deputy Director for the Net Zero Transition at Ofgem, the independent energy regulator.
Themes for discussion include Gender & Decarbonisation, Food & Agriculture, and Buildings & Architecture.
SSE Enterprise Managing Director Neil Kirkby is due to take part in a panel discussion on Wednesday, looking at the policies that cities and national governments need to pursue to rapidly decarbonise. Wednesday’s theme at Cop26 is zero emission transport.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Kirkby said:
“Enabling people to adopt more sustainable transport modes, from public transport to bicycles and of course electric vehicles, is essential if we are to meet our net zero ambitions. It’s important that we see the right mix of charging infrastructure to tackle the ‘range anxiety’ for both private consumers and commercial fleets.
“Policymakers can set targets, which focus minds, such as net zero by 2050 and no more sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. In turn, these policies signal to the private how fast and in which direction we need to innovate. We are two sides of the same coin.
“SSE Energy Solutions has already helped electrify hundreds of buses in cities such as London and Glasgow, and we’re a key partner at one of the world’s largest Vehicle to Grid trial sites. We want to spread our EV bus infrastructure investment and expertise across the UK, and we will look to local and national governments to keep sending the right signals.
“A key aim of this Decarbonisation Summit is to bring together the private and public sectors to ensure collaboration. By working together we can achieve so much more, such as a network of smart community EV charging hubs.
“Zero emission vehicles mean cleaner air in our town and city centres, benefiting public health, so this is a win-win. The route to decarbonisation will be swifter the more we embrace the electrification of transport. I’m hopeful that the Decarbonation Summit will achieve that consensus and inspire further action.”
