Net Zero Festival: The political case for net zero

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: Green Alliance executive director Shaun Spiers argues that while climate action has broken into the political mainstream, many politicians have yet to fully comprehend the scale of the net zero challenge ahead

As executive director for environmental think tank Green Alliance, and chair of Greener UK - the coalition of 13 organisations campaigning for a 'green Brexit' - Shaun Spiers is one of the UK's keenest observers of the green political scene.

Indeed, he has been at the forefront of the UK's green policy debates for a quarter of a century, having served as an MEP for five years before leading the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) as chief executive until 2017, when he left to join Green Alliance.

In a short lecture for the world's first Net Zero Festival last week, Spiers argued that while climate action has broken into the political mainstream, many politicians have yet to fully comprehend the scale of the net zero challenge. His speech - which sets out the case for politicians taking net zero and climate action far more seriously - can be viewed in full above.

All of the panel debates, keynote speeches, and presentations from the world's first Net Zero Festival - which took place over three days from 30 September featuring hundreds of top speakers from business, politics and academia - are now available to watch again on demand through the Net Zero Festival website.

More on Politics

'Keep oil and gas in the ground': Zack Polanski demands 'clean energy future' for the UK

'Keep oil and gas in the ground': Zack Polanski demands 'clean energy future' for the UK

Green Party leader argues devastating summer of climate extremes 'should have been the final nail in the coffin for new oil and gas'

Michael Holder
clock 02 October 2026 • 4 min read
What does true pragmatism look like in an age of climate crisis?

What does true pragmatism look like in an age of climate crisis?

Andy Burnham has promised a 'pragmatic' approach to North Sea drilling, but who gets to decide what that word even means?

James Murray
clock 01 October 2026 • 8 min read
Change agent: Burnham's support for clean energy is welcome, but tough choices await

Change agent: Burnham's support for clean energy is welcome, but tough choices await

The Prime Minister is serious about climate action and has the political ability to sell his vision, but imminent decisions on North Sea drilling and electric vehicles could undermine his green ambitions

James Murray
clock 30 September 2026 • 4 min read