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Conference Series: Achieving Net Zero

Following COP26, the context for decarbonisation has changed dramatically. Amidst a global energy crisis and geopolitical turmoil, businesses must still lead the UK's transition to net zero.

Join us at this free event to gain insights on how the UK's net zero strategy must adapt in the current global economic context, hear practical advice from decarbonisation experts, and contribute to the network of company leaders, policy makers and change makers who will make it happen.

Why Attend

  • People Icon 77 X 78 01

    Hear from an inspiring line-up of speakers, who are already leading the way on net zero

  • Conference Icon 77 X 78 01

    Access practical guidance on how to shape and finance your business' net zero strategy

  • Networking Icon 77 X 78 01

    Join 500+ business leaders and policymakers as we tackle the net zero challenge collaboratively

Our Speakers

Confirmed speakers include:


Conference Programme

  • 09:00
    Tony Danker
    Tony Danker

    Welcome and opening keynote address

    Speakers
    • Tony Danker
      Tony Danker Director General, CBI
  • 09:15
    Bernice Lee OBE
    Bernice Lee OBE

    The energy crisis: a wake up call for net zero?

    A squeeze on gas supplies over the winter and the Ukraine conflict have sent wholesale energy prices soaring, driving up inflation and putting pressure on households and businesses. How should the UK’s energy strategy evolve in this context and how will that impact the achievement of our net zero goals?

    Speakers
    • Bernice Lee OBE
      Bernice Lee OBE Chair, Sustainability Accelerator Advisory Council, Chatham House
    • Claire O’Neill
      Claire O’Neill Co-Chair, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
    • John Pettigrew
      John Pettigrew Chief Executive Officer, National Grid
    • Tony Danker
      Tony Danker Director General, CBI
    • Adam Vaughan
      Adam Vaughan Chief Reporter, New Scientist
  • 10:10
    David Craig
    David Craig

    Green growth: still an opportunity?

    The net zero transition is an economic opportunity, as well as an environmental necessity. There is huge potential for green growth and increased competitiveness, from job creation in new sustainable markets, to thriving supply chains and innovation hubs for new green sectors.

    Speakers
    • David Craig
      David Craig Co-chair, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
    • Julian Critchlow
      Julian Critchlow Advisory Partner, Bain; former Director General Energy Transformation & Clean Growth, BEIS
    • Orral Nadjari
      Orral Nadjari Founder & CEO, Britishvolt
    • Grete Tveit
      Grete Tveit Senior Vice President, Equinor
    • Ed Birkett
      Ed Birkett Head of Energy and Climate, Onward
  • 11:30
    Speakers to be announced
    Speakers to be announced

    Leading the international transition

    The challenges facing the UK to decarbonise whilst handling supply chain crises and seeking economic growth are not unique – they are global challenges. How can the UK show leadership? Where is there demand for collaboration? How can technology and finance accelerate the transition?

  • 12:00
    Dr. Thomas Hale
    Dr. Thomas Hale

    Realising net zero: the scale of the challenge for business

    Tackling climate change and the nature crises is a global effort, and 2022 is the year to turn net zero ideas into reality. At COP26 we saw leaders from across the world coming together and looking in the right direction. But now we need action to follow. 

    Speakers
    • Dr. Thomas Hale
      Dr. Thomas Hale Associate Professor of Global Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
    • Chris Stark
      Chris Stark Chief Executive, Climate Change Committee
    • Tanya Steele
      Tanya Steele Chief Executive, WWF
    • Sacha Wright
      Sacha Wright Research and Curriculum Coordinator, Force of Nature
  • 13:30
    Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
    Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP

    In discussion with Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, COP26 President

    Speakers
    • Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
      Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP COP26 President
    • Tony Danker
      Tony Danker Director General, CBI
  • 14:00
    Dave Dalton
    Dave Dalton

    Too hard to decarb? Net zero for heavy industry

    Heavy industry currently represents one sixth of the UK emissions and comprises some of the UK’s most energy intensive businesses. Sectors like steel and chemicals are at the heart of our critical supply chains but require rapid advancement in green technologies to decarbonise, all at a time when energy costs are increasing rapidly. 

    Speakers
    • Dave Dalton
      Dave Dalton Chief Executive, British Glass
    • Chris De Beer
      Chris De Beer Global Hydrogen Lead, Mott MacDonald
    • Seamus French
      Seamus French Europe Managing Director, CEO-designate, Laing O'Rourke
    • Isabelle Maddock
      Isabelle Maddock CFO, James Cropper plc
    • Tom Thackray
      Tom Thackray Programme Director - Decarbonisation, CBI
  • 15:00
    Sarah Breeden
    Sarah Breeden

    Financing the green transition

    The Climate Change Committee has estimated that £50bn of investment will be needed every year to meet the UK’s net zero target, with the majority coming from the private sector. How do investors scale up to meet this challenge and how do we create the right regulatory conditions to unleash new capital for the transition?

    Speakers
    • Sarah Breeden
      Sarah Breeden Executive Director for Financial Stability Strategy and Risk, Bank of England
    • Richard Dudley
      Richard Dudley Global Head of Climate Strategy, Aon
    • Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE
      Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE Chief Executive, Green Finance Institute
    • Anne Marie Verstraeten
      Anne Marie Verstraeten UK Country Head, BNP Paribas
    • Rain Newton-Smith
      Rain Newton-Smith Chief Economist, CBI
  • 16:20
    Zahra Bahrololoumi
    Zahra Bahrololoumi

    COP27: What can we expect from world leaders in Sharm El-Sheikh?

    Under the UK Presidency in Glasgow, COP26 delivered meaningful shifts in global commitments to tackling climate change with over 90% of emissions covered by countries with net zero targets. However, without raising ambitions further the 1.5 degree threshold for temperature rises will be overshot. Will world leaders do what’s required when they reconvene in Egypt later this year?

    Speakers
    • Zahra Bahrololoumi
      Zahra Bahrololoumi EVP and CEO UKI, Salesforce
    • Alyssa Gilbert
      Alyssa Gilbert Director of Policy and Translation, Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment
    • Mary Robinson
      Mary Robinson Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice, Trinity College Dublin; Former President of Ireland
    • Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL
      Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL President, CBI
  • 17:05
    Ed Miliband MP
    Ed Miliband MP

    In discussion with Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero

    Speakers
    • Ed Miliband MP
      Ed Miliband MP Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero
    • Syma Cullasy-Aldridge
      Syma Cullasy-Aldridge Chief Campaigns Director, CBI
  • 17:30
  • 09:30
    Gillian Cooper
    Gillian Cooper

    Cost of net zero or cost of not zero?

    Rocketing energy bills are contributing to a cost-of-living crisis where high inflation threatens to squeeze household spending power, hitting hardest for those with the least. Businesses too are struggling to manage higher prices and supply chain disruption. Can we afford the investments needed to meet our ambitious net zero objectives? Or is the question, can we afford not to act when fossil fuels are driving volatility and the economic opportunities for early movers are clear?

    Speakers
    • Gillian Cooper
      Gillian Cooper Head of Energy Policy, Citizens Advice
    • Ian Funnell
      Ian Funnell CEO, Hitachi Energy, UK and Ireland
    • Tim Lord
      Tim Lord Head of Climate Change, Phoenix Group
    • John Foster
      John Foster Director, Policy Unit, CBI
  • 10:30
    Helen Whately MP
    Helen Whately MP

    In discussion with Helen Whately MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury

    Speakers
    • Helen Whately MP
      Helen Whately MP Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
    • Matthew Fell
      Matthew Fell Chief Policy Director, CBI
  • 11:30
    Polly Billington
    Polly Billington

    Level up, lower emissions

    While high-level targets and strategies are set nationally, they are delivered locally. Shifting to net zero will require the direction and ingenuity of local leaders across the country. Managed correctly it is a chance to not only improve outcomes for the environment but to provide better economic opportunities and living standards for people right across the country.

    Speakers
    • Polly Billington
      Polly Billington Chief Executive, UK100
    • Faye Bowser
      Faye Bowser Head of Energy & Performance Services GB&I, Siemens plc
    • David Croft
      David Croft Global Director Sustainability, Environment and Human Rights, Reckitt Benckiser
    • Guy Newey
      Guy Newey Director of Strategy and Performance, Energy Systems Catapult
    • Rain Newton-Smith
      Rain Newton-Smith Chief Economist, CBI
  • 12:25
    Rachel Armstrong
    Rachel Armstrong

    It's time to talk about carbon markets

    Pricing carbon emissions is recognised as a fundamental tool to encourage business action towards net zero, whether through ‘cap and trade’ systems like the UK’s Emissions Trading Scheme or taxes on high carbon products. Businesses are also increasingly interested in accessing high quality offsets for emissions they have not yet managed to eliminate.

    Speakers
    • Rachel Armstrong
      Rachel Armstrong Director, Industrial Decarbonisation & Emissions Trading, BEIS
    • Jonathan Shopley
      Jonathan Shopley Managing Director, Climate Impact Partners
    • Peter Chalkley
      Peter Chalkley Director, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit
  • 14:20
    Javier Echave
    Javier Echave

    Keynote discussion

    Speakers
    • Javier Echave
      Javier Echave Chief Financial Officer, Heathrow
    • Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL
      Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL President, CBI
  • 15:00
    Anna Bartle
    Anna Bartle

    Getting nature positive

    Responsible businesses know they have a crucial part to play in protecting the environment and are acutely aware of the high consumer demand for firms to be proactive. The new Environment Act places more onus on developers to enhance the natural environment

    Speakers
    • Anna Bartle
      Anna Bartle Regional Lead, Citizenship & Sustainability and Vice President, Corporate Affairs, The Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland
    • Minette Batters
      Minette Batters President, National Farmers' Union
    • Andrea Ledward
      Andrea Ledward International Biodiversity and Climate Director, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
    • Richard Warneford
      Richard Warneford Wastewater Director, Northumbrian Water Group
    • Tania Kumar
      Tania Kumar Head of Decabonisation, CBI
  • 16:00
    Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL
    Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL

    Closing keynote address

    Speakers
    • Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL
      Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL President, CBI

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Join us in person

The Science Museum

The Science Museum

We are excited to announce that this conference will be held at the Science Museum's Illuminate, a new award-winning venue offering stunning views of the City.

Science Museum
Group Entrance
Imperial College Road
London SW7 9AG

Conference partners