Image: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham delivers keynote speech | Credit: Net Zero North West
The industrial landscape of England's North West stands on the cusp of a transformative journey towards becoming a pioneering net zero industry hub for low-carbon manufacturing. In a groundbreaking initiative, industry leaders and policymakers unveiled a visionary roadmap to unlock a staggering £30 billion pipeline of investable decarbonisation projects. This ambitious endeavour promises to reshape the region's economic landscape and holds the potential to generate and safeguard an impressive 660,000 jobs.
The Net Zero North West cluster consortium, a diverse coalition comprising industry stalwarts, political figures, and academic luminaries, has released its bold 'manifesto' outlining a strategic framework to propel the region towards net zero status by 2040. At its core, the manifesto delineates a meticulous plan to substantially decarbonise heavy industry by 2030, paving the way for a definitive transition to net zero emissions by the targeted deadline.
Central to the consortium's vision is harnessing the region's abundant energy resources and industrial infrastructure. From the vast expanse of offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea to the formidable Sellafield nuclear power plant and the promising prospects of tidal energy initiatives in Liverpool Bay, the North West boasts a rich tapestry of renewable energy assets. Complementing these endeavours are ambitious plans for battery storage projects and the proposed HyNet industrial cluster, poised to catalyse carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen production on a monumental scale.
Yet, the journey towards net zero entails more than just harnessing renewable energy sources. The manifesto underscores the critical imperative for enhanced energy efficiency measures, nuclear energy deployment, and bolstered rail infrastructure. Moreover, it calls for robust government support to bolster green technologies like CCUS and cultivate the requisite infrastructure and workforce capabilities for navigating the net zero transition complexities.
With Mayor Andy Burnham's resounding endorsement, this transformative vision embarks on a path towards reshaping the North West's industrial landscape, setting a bold precedent for sustainable development and climate action on a global scale.
Ged Barlow, chief executive at Net Zero North West, said decarbonising industry in the region by 2040 was "an opportunity that presents significant economic benefits, both regionally and nationally".
He added, "It will create and protect high-value jobs and position the UK at the forefront of global industrial emissions reductions."
Research cited by the partnership claims the region boasts the highest number of potential green tech manufacturing jobs in the UK due to its rich industrial history and associated resources.
"Our plans underscore the importance of collaboration and collective action in addressing the challenges of climate change," added Barlow. "By setting ambitious targets and working towards a common goal of sustainability, we can inspire other regions to follow suit and join the global movement towards a greener, more sustainable future."
The manifesto has also been supported by the region's metro mayors, including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
Burnham hailed the Net Zero North West vision as "the right collaboration at the right time".
"While there might be challenges to reaching net zero on a national level, here in the North West, we will face up to the opportunity," he said. More than 600,000 green jobs are within our reach, right here in our region."
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, which is targeting net zero by 2035, also welcomed the manifesto's net zero vision.
"Climate change presents a global challenge on a scale like nothing we've ever seen – and it will require a huge, collective response to tackle it," he said. "From the work we're doing to position ourselves as Britain's Renewable Energy Coast, to bringing national infrastructure projects like Mersey Tidal Power to life, to the cleaner, greener public transport network we're building, our area is firing on all cylinders to make sure we do our bit for the planet – and the region's economy.
"Overcoming climate change is not something that can be accomplished solely in our region, the UK, or even in Europe - but that won't stop the North West doing everything we can to play the biggest part possible."