Report

Beyond COVID-19: laying the foundations for a net-zero recovery

In this briefing the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) calls for an economic recovery that pivots the UK towards a net-zero future, rather than one that locks us into a high-carbon future. It offers five foundations, accompanied by actions that the government, engineering community and others could take, which will secure a low-carbon and resilient recovery. These practical steps or building blocks will enable the UK to be an authentic and strong leader and cement its place as a global
science power by sending a powerful message about how the UK plans to make a step-change in
its response to climate change.

This briefing sets out an engineering perspective on opportunities for decarbonisation as the UK responds to the COVID-19 crisis. It focuses on the net-zero challenge rather than broader ‘green’ issues, for example, resource efficiency and air quality, while recognising these are not unconnected. It highlights the importance of a socio-technical perspective, a key element of a systems approach, and that learning from past policy initiatives that have attempted to deliver similar objectives is essential.