Net zero is not a pipe dream (yet)
Gathered in the Titanic Suite, not far from the famous Harland and Wolff shipyard and the historic slipways where Titanic was built and launched, industry and government came together for the annual Northern Ireland Energy Forum to discuss the building blocks of the energy transition.
As with all energy conferences in recent years, three familiar frustrations emerged – lack of planning progress, policy delays and grid constraints. Speakers, panellists and attendees alike however were also importantly united on how to overcome these challenges – collaboratively.
Against this backdrop of the second industrial revolution, it was uplifting to feel that perhaps it is in our DNA to power a clean revolution but only if we step up together. It requires three main things:
Creative engagement
Maybe more so than any other sector, the energy ecosystem is known for its collaborative approach. From conferences and consultations to roundtables and forums, interested parties regularly come together to knowledge share. This however can often be in respective technology silos. Just as the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 cuts across Executive departments, the responsibility to decarbonise cuts across heat, transport, electricity and even agriculture.
It was clear from the presentations that quality innovation is happening right across this ecosystem. Insights shared included unique funding models to progress pilot projects, governance arrangements to support speedy delivery, lesser-known technologies like geothermal and e-methanol to support a low carbon future and research into how the digitalisation of energy can make markets more dynamic. The examples shared cut across sectors and technologies and it’s clear that by leaving vested interests at the door we can foster creative engagement with the private sector to progress innovation at pace.
Public buy-in
All the speakers recognised that the scale of the climate emergency means we need much more than just scientific or technological solutions. It’s a challenge that goes to the heart of society and requires a change in how we live our lives.
Public buy-in to this journey is essential. Motivating change is not an easy feat and needs education and information sharing, combining the science of behavioural change and the art of communication. From our own proven work in this area across waste and recycling, public transport, sustainable food production and the crucial energy transition away from fossil fuels, we know that storytelling is a powerful component in tackling the climate crisis, yet sharing good news can often fall to the bottom of an organisation’s to-do list. The consensus in the room however is that it quickly needs to become a priority if we are to achieve our ambitious targets together.
Policy enablement
Net zero is not a pipe dream just yet – it requires the energy sector to act in lockstep with each other, and for leadership across the political, sectoral and community spheres working towards a common goal.
Key to this will be policy advancement to give organisations the green light they need to make real tangible progress. The T&Cs for the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) scheme, the revised Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for renewable and low carbon energy and the Offshore Renewable Energy Installation bill are all much needed within the current mandate. A clear take away from the NI Energy Forum was the need for our leaders to focus on delivery and engagement – and to hold off on electioneering mode – until these enablement priorities are progressed. Surely it’s not too much to expect that the environment and the necessary energy transition should enjoy a broad political consensus.
Clare Daly is a director at Morrow Communications, specialising in energy and sustainability communications, helping organisations motivate cultural change. To find out more about our sustainability storytelling hub, ‘A Better ToMorrow’, visit: Pursuing a ‘Better ToMorrow’ with new net zero goal – Morrow Communications
