Net Zero Council
This is a partnership between government, business and finance, providing cross-cutting strategy across major business sectors to deliver our net zero target.
Delivery of net zero relies on strong business action. This is why we have established the Net Zero Council, a partnership between government, business and finance.
The Council provides cross-cutting strategy across major business sectors to deliver our net zero target and capture the benefits of this transition in the UK. It supports industry to help cut their emissions and develop greener practices, as well as delivering on the government’s priority to grow the economy by finding ways to ensure British businesses can benefit from the UK’s world-leading position in renewable technology.
Read the press release announcing its inception (9 May 2023).
Objectives
The Council supports the delivery of our net zero target by working with business, industry, investors and finance leaders to identify and secure existing and future economic opportunities for the UK.
The Council’s key objectives include:
- working to ensure business sectors have robust pathways to net zero. This includes identifying the barriers to net zero across sectors and the solutions to these blockers
- leading a systematic review of the financing challenges and the respective roles of government, industry and the financial sector in addressing them
- identifying key challenges facing SMEs up and down the country in reducing their carbon footprints and supporting their transition with new information, advice and support
Members
The Council is co-chaired by:
- Energy Minister Justin Tomlinson
- Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, Shirine Khoury-Haq
The co-chairs are supported by leaders from across the business, finance and industry:
| Name | Position | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Cox | UK Managing Director | Kuehne + Nagel |
| Alice Delahunty | President of Electricity Transmission | National Grid |
| Carl Ennis | CEO | Siemens |
| Liv Garfield | CEO | Severn Trent |
| Matthew Hammerstein | CEO of UK Corporate Bank | Barclays |
| Jo-Jo Hubbard | Co-founder and CEO | Electron |
| Chris Hulatt | Co-founder | Octopus Investments |
| Martin McTague | National Chair | FSB |
| John Neal | CEO | Lloyds of London |
| Alistair Phillips-Davies | CEO | SSE |
| Richard Robinson | CEO | Atkins |
| Lex Russell | UK Managing Director | Cemex |
| Ian Simm | CEO | Impax Asset Management |
| Ian Stuart | UK CEO | HSBC |
| David Thomas | CEO | Barratt |
| Rhian-Mari Thomas | CEO | Green Finance Institute |
| Richard Watson | UK CEO | Nestle |
The Net Zero Council’s secretariat is led by:
- the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- the Broadway Initiative
- the Green Finance Institute
- Aldersgate Group
Minutes
We will publish summary minutes from the Net Zero Council meetings here.
Contact details
If you would like to get involved with the Net Zero Council and contribute to its goals, please contact NetZeroCouncil@energysecurity.gov.uk.