Leading a green recovery: How the UK can lead the world in a sustainable, green recovery as the world begins to bounce back from COVID-19
UK International Trade Minister and Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness
In 1882, the world’s first coal-fired power station opened at Holborn Viaduct. Called the Edison Light Electric Station, it provided street lighting along a mile of road through the heart of the City of London.
Since then, the UK’s energy mix, much like the rest of the world, has been dominated by fossil fuels. That is until 2020, when renewables became the dominant form of energy in the UK for the first time.
The UK sparked the industrial revolution and is now leading the green revolution. We have cut our emissions by more than any other major nation since 1990 and yet significantly grown our economy too.
This year we will host the COP26 global climate change conference in Glasgow and will share how we will reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and deliver accelerated change and new jobs through our recently announced 10 Point Plan.
We are making the UK the test bed for next generation technologies so that we can eliminate emissions here and take global leadership in the provision of low carbon products and services abroad. This will lead to the reinvigoration of our traditional industrial heartlands, providing well paid jobs and exports which will help the whole world meet the climate challenge.
We have led the world in the deployment of offshore wind and transformed the economics of its use - but we are also global leaders in electric cars, green construction and sustainable infrastructure. UK demand for green solutions combined with both government and private sector research and development has put us in an enviable position and well placed to go further
Other countries are seeking to follow our lead in cutting emissions but growing their economies. At the Department for International Trade we are determined to support UK businesses to reach those markets and accelerate sustainability drives in partner countries as the recovery from the pandemic takes hold.
Our export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF), is ready to provide finance and insurance both for our exporting companies and for overseas buyers, so that all viable deals can be delivered.