Raising the stakes – UK Government's opportunity to be a green superpower

I am immensely proud to be part of EY, as just this week, we publicly committed to becoming carbon negative across all our operations across the globe by the end of 2021. Working as EY UK&I Government and Infrastructure Leader, it got me thinking about the UK Government’s commitment to sustainability and the opportunities within that.

The sustainability commitment is an important step for EY and we hope our commitment will have an impact well beyond our organisation. Firstly, by setting a standard that others will be encouraged follow, thereby multiplying the effect. Secondly, by strengthening our credibility as advisers to public and private sector clients on sustainability-related issues. Now we can show as well as tell.

The national opportunity

The Government has announced similarly ambitious plans for the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already laid out some major milestones. A new emissions target sets the UK on the path to be net zero by 2050. A Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution aims to support 250,000 British jobs and deliver over ￡40bn of private investment by 2030.

Ultimately, these are targets for others to work towards, albeit with policy and incentives set by government. However, there is also an opportunity for government itself, as a major organisation, employer and landlord, to be leading the charge for change. The civil service employs over 400,000 staff and has thousands of properties believed to be equivalent to two million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. While government departments have their own individual targets, there is currently no overarching public articulation of their central objective. Such a target – for example, being net zero by the end of the decade – could help the Government to lead by example, setting the gold standard for private sector organisations to follow. By making a public declaration such as this and working towards this objective, it may also be easier to hold businesses to account.

 Delivering for Britain

So that’s the opportunity; what about the practicalities? EY have been working with organisations to help achieve net zero across their portfolio of properties. A drop in the ocean when you factor in the whole of central government, all local authorities and the devolved governments – yet the same basic principles apply:

• First, set a clear target or goal and declare it publicly.
• Secondly, have clear accountability across the organisation so that, centrally and departmentally, someone senior is responsible for delivering to those targets across each function.
• Thirdly, have a clear measurement regime and framework so that the right data is collected and progress can be evaluated.

In our work, we have been following the principles set out in the carbon pillar of our recently published Public Value Charter, where we commit to helping our clients to operate in an environmentally sustainable way.

What’s clear though, is that public and private sector organisations alike will need to develop new ways of thinking to meet the challenges posed by climate change. Given the scale of the challenges, knowledge sharing and collaboration will be crucial if we are to accelerate the UK’s progress on this defining issue or our generation.

Looking ahead

Major, metrics-based announcements typically come from the Chancellor and Rishi Sunak is due to deliver the 2021 Budget in early March. This could provide a perfect opportunity to signal our nation’s intention, particularly given it will be a few months before the UK hosts the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.   

 Rohan Malik, EY UK&I Government and Infrastructure Leader