Local Zero

Countdown to the UK General Election - full panel discussion

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Episode notes

Recently, we brought you edited highlights from a live panel discussion held in Edinburgh, entitled Countdown to the General Election: Scotland’s next steps to net-zero.

This episode is the panel discussion in full, including 10 minutes of opening remarks from Chris Stark, Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee, and over an hour of indepth debate featuring, alongside Chris:

• Charles Hendry, President of BIEE and former UK Government Energy Minister (chair)
• Guy Jefferson, COO Scottish Power Energy Networks
• Professor Janette Webb, chair in Sociology of Organisations, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh
• Chris Birt, associate director for Scotland at the Joseph Rowntree foundation

This discussion considers:

• Are the main parties' decarbonisation goals realistic and achievable?
• Can decarbonisation goals be made more compelling to voters who are concerned that they will have a negative impact on costs of energy and energy security; and what steps are needed to achieve this?
• Where do significant policy gaps lie and what are the priorities for action?
• Recommendations for parties’ manifestos to accelerate a just transition to net-zero.

With thanks to BIEE and Edinburgh University's Business School for allowing us to record and share the discussion.