TechUK and Deloitte’s solution to the UK’s 2050 net-zero plan
Following a report from TechUK and Deloitte, the UK have made their first major post-Brexit trade deal which could boost the tech industry, something which according to TechUK, will help with plans to be net-zero by 2050.
TechUK, the UK’s leading technology membership organisation, has put forward a report with Deloitte which suggests a number of legislative recommendations for the UK government to help reach its 2050 net-zero target. By working collaboratively with the government and others, TechUK provides expert guidance and insight for their members and stakeholders. They show how to prepare for the future, anticipate change and realise the positive potential of technology in a fast-moving world.
Showing how digital technologies can help the UK achieve its target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and become a leader in green technology, Julien David, CEO of TechUK has spoken confidently of his plan. David has said: “While techno-fixes to the carbon crisis are no silver bullet, we know that digital technology can play a vital supporting role in the complex systems transformation that achieving net-zero requires”.
Deloitte has carried out an analysis that suggests digital technology already in the field could be used to reduce 7.3 million tonnes of UK carbon emissions by 2030, providing 15% of what’s needed. Technology can also unlock added benefits of £13.7bn by enabling other sectors to be flexible, automated and efficient.
Nick Seeber, partner at Deloitte explained how the UK tech industry can help drive environmental change, whilst reinforcing the importance of this emerging sector. Seeber said:
The opportunity in tech is unique, the platform [that] tech companies provide means that there’s an opportunity not just decarbonise their own operations, but also to be an enabler for the decarbonisation of the wider system – and that’s something which is… very special in our sector.
Secondly, clean technology in the UK is a win-win. It’s both environmentally beneficial and also economically advantageous. There really is no reason not to see cleantech in the UK as a priority.
In their report, TechUK urge the government to support this growing sector and offers several recommendations that include:
Putting a focus on “data for decarbonisation”.
Pivoting innovation to net-zero to test new technologies’ underlying value propositions and viability.
Begin “crown sourcing” of innovative tech solutions to policy challenges.
Seek out evidence on market incentives for net zero to strengthen the investment case and unlock private investment in decarbonisation.
The first major post-Brexit deal
Following this report, the UK has made a major trade deal with Japan, the first major trade outside of the EU. The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership was agreed in principle by the International Trade Secretary and Japanese Foreign Minister on a video call on Friday (11th September).
Concerning the deal, International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said:
This is a historic moment for the UK and Japan. This is our first major post-Brexit trade deal and it goes far beyond the existing EU deal by securing new wins for British business including in our great manufacturing, food and drink, and tech industries.
From our tech and digital firms to our fashion industry, this deal will create new opportunities for people throughout the whole of the UK and help level up our country. Strategically, this deal is an important step towards joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership and placing Britain at the centre of a network of modern free trade agreements with like-minded friends and allies.
This deal could increase trade by £15.2 billion, giving a £1.5 billion boost to the economy and increasing UK workers’ wages by £800 million in the long run. Benefitting the 1,993 businesses in Greater London that exported to Japan last year, the trade will help even more local businesses to sell their goods to Japan for the first time.
CEO of TechUK, Julian David has said about the deal:
TechUK welcomes the conclusion of the UK-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement with its comprehensive digital trade chapter. [The] agreement improves an already flourishing relationship between the UK and Japan tech sectors and creates significant opportunities for trade and investment for both our countries.
With the report from Deloitte and TechUK and the new trade deal with Japan, clean technology and investment into it could be the solution to help the UK with their plans to become net-zero by 2050.