Green industrial policy: balancing national goals and global integration

The fracturing consensus on green growth, shifting trade dynamics, and security concerns are reshaping industrial policy priorities across the UK, Europe and beyond.

This panel brings together perspectives from academia, industry and policy to examine how green industrial policies can deliver sustainable growth in an increasingly uncertain global environment. Panellists will explore the role of innovation and international linkages, particularly through global value chains, in achieving net zero, and unpack why creating everything 'at home' may have unintended economic and environmental consequences. They will discuss current evidence on sustainable growth opportunities, including the interactions between net zero and broader technological change, and how businesses are responding to evolving policy landscapes.

Meet our speakers and chair

The Rt Hon Greg Clark is Executive Chair of the University of Warwick’s Innovation District (and Chair of WMG – the Warwick Manufacturing Group). Greg served for 19 years as a Member of Parliament, before stepping down in 2024. He was a senior minister for nearly 10 years, including serving in the UK Cabinet as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Minister for Science and Universities, and previously as Minister for Cities and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Greg read economics at Cambridge University before earning his PhD from the London School of Economics.

Oliver Harman is a spatial economist and economic geographer at LSE's Department of Geography and Environment. His research focuses on urbanisation, global value chains and regional development. He is co-author of Harnessing Global Value Chains for Regional Development (Routledge, 2023, with Riccardo Crescenzi) and the forthcoming Cambridge University Press book Green GVCs for Sustainable Regional Development. Previously, he spent nearly a decade advising local government ministries and mayoral teams across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean on sustainable urban development and fiscal policy.

Louise Hellem is Chief Economist at the CBI and a member of its Executive Committee. She shapes the CBI's overall view on economic and fiscal policy, leads discussions with senior politicians and policymakers, and oversees CBI Economics, the organisation's economic consultancy. Her recent work includes leading research on the UK's net zero economy, which found the sector now generates over £83 billion in gross value added. Prior to joining the CBI, Louise spent 13 years at HM Treasury as a member of the Government Economic Service, where she led on analytical and policy issues including National Living Wage policy and assessing economic and distributional impacts of policy measures. She holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Bristol and a degree in Economics and International Development from the University of Bath.

Anna Valero is Director of the Growth Programme and a Professor in Practice at the Centre for Economic Performance, LSE, and Deputy Director of the Programme on Innovation and Diffusion (POID). Her research focuses on sustainable growth, innovation diffusion, and industrial strategy. She currently serves as Industrial Strategy Adviser to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, having previously served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers. She is a member of the Royal Economic Society Council.

Riccardo Crescenzi is Professor of Economic Geography at LSE and a leading expert on foreign direct investment, global value chains and regional development. He has held a European Research Council grant and advised the European Commission, World Bank, OECD, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He is author of Harnessing Global Value Chains for Regional Development (Routledge, 2023, with Oliver Harman) and co-author of the forthcoming Cambridge University Press book Green GVCs for Sustainable Regional Development.

More about this event

This event is part of the LSE Festival: How to save the planet running from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 June 2026. This year's Festival explores how existential threats including the climate crisis, conflict and AI are affecting all parts of the world, transforming the way and where we live, and how our societies function. With a series of events asking what can we be doing to save the Earth, its people and environment? Booking for all Festival events will open on Monday 18 May.

The Centre for Economic Performance (@CEP_LSE) carries out policy-focused research on the causes of economic growth and effective ways to create a fair, inclusive and sustainable society.

The Department of Geography and Environment (@LSEGeography) is a centre of international academic excellence in economic, urban and development geography, environmental social science and climate change.

Hashtag for this event: #LSEFestival

From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.

LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.