Since the beginning of the year and as the Covid-19 pandemic affected the country, resulting in the massive financial commitments made by Rishi Sunak to protect jobs, I realised that there is another option to consider - investment in British manufacturing. 

 

The Government’s requirement to achieve net zero carbon across many business sectors by 2050 is further reinforced by the UK Green Building Council calling for net zero carbon in Construction by 2030.

Source: The Guardian

The UK has a history of being a creative and productive manufacturer, which began with the Industrial revolution in the early 18th to mid-19th Century.  This success created the current Climate Change Crisis by fuelling our insatiable demand and dependency on fossil fuels. It is ironic that we are now having to reconsider our dependency on coal and gas.

 

To have an impact on the current climate emergency, carbon utilisation in construction needs to be at the lowest possible level, ideally at actual/absolute zero.  Including manufacturing and transportation into the net-zero equation creates a new opportunity for the UK to establish a low-carbon manufacturing base, and is something the Government should consider.  

 

 

Aiming for net zero carbon in construction helps, but net zero always allows for a residual quantity of carbon to be addressed by offsetting. Should we be aiming for absolute, not net zero, to have the greatest impact on the climate emergency?

 

As many raw materials are extracted in a variety of locations around the world, carbon expended in extracting and processing these is not within our control. However, by manufacturing materials and components in the UK, and by using green energy in our factories, we can reduce the embodied carbon in the manufacturing process and in transportation from factory to site.

 

The UK Government has committed to a 100% green energy grid. Therefore, when comparing the UK to countries with less or no commitment to reducing dependency on fossil fuels, British Industry will have an advantage and can take the initiative.

GHG emissions. Source The World Resource Institute

Imagine if government stimulated manufacturing through investment and created enterprise zones around the British Isles. This could enable the expansion of green UK manufacturing rather than UK Construction relying on a supply chain with a less ethical approach to climate change. 

This would be an effective way to stimulate economic growth, offering skills and employment to areas that have historically been the industrial heartlands of the UK. 

There is great emphasis on emerging high-tech industries, but we have the resources to manufacture more traditional products.  British companies can manufacture; glass cladding, curtain walling/architectural facades. We should also be able to make heat exchangers, chillers, pumps, valves, pipe work and cabling, raised floors, BMS systems, lifts and many other components.  Investment in design and factory machinery has been lacking, and we have fallen behind European and Global competition. 

 

Socio- and economic benefits could come from investment in high and low tech industries with factories driven by green energy to enable truly low carbon products.  Through corporation tax receipts ,investment would be repaid over time and could ultimately be self-financing. 

 

It is amazing how much money has been “found” – potentially £300-500bn, borrowed, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Gov Borrowing. Source: ONS