Net Zero Festival: How to accelerate clean infrastructure deployment post-coronavirus

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: National Grid's Nicola Shaw, WSP's David Symons, and Hitachi ABB Power Grids' Ian Funnell discuss the priorities and challenges for building a green Covid-19 recovery

The government has repeatedly tumpeted its desire to "build back greener" from the devastating economic fallout from Covid-19 pandemic, in order to further a green recovery that has the UK's 2050 net zero emissions target at its heart. Green infrastructure investments are therefore set to play a key role in the recovery - but where should governments and businesses be prioritising investments, how much is required, and what are the challenges and opportunities?

To discuss these questions and more, National Grid executive director Nicola Shaw CBE, David Symons, future ready leader at WSP, and Hitachi ABB Power Grids UK & Ireland CEO Ian Funnell joined BusinessGreen editor in chief James Murray for a fascinating discussion ahead of the world's first Net Zero Festival which took place late last month. The wide-ranging conversation can be watch 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.

National Grid is a partner of the Net Zero Festival.

More on Infrastructure

Credit: iStock

Energy Networks Association: Gas companies to quit trade body at end of 2024

Gas network firms such as Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, and SGN to leave ENA, as debate over gas industry's role in the net zero transition intensifies

Michael Holder
clock 29 November 2023 • 5 min read
Credit: iStock

Report: Upgrading global grids could cut clean energy transition costs by $3tr by 2040

Research estimates investing in grid upgrades to prepare for influx of renewable energy capacity would in many cases be cheaper than failing to take action at all

Michael Holder
clock 23 November 2023 • 4 min read
Credit: UKPN

'Right to plug': Businesses call on government to rapidly expand EV charging network

Leading fleet operators back calls for wide-ranging policy reforms to accelerate the rollout of public charge points

James Murray
clock 16 November 2023 • 6 min read