Reacting to the Chancellor’s speech on growth this morning, Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research institute on Climate change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: “there is much to welcome in the Chancellor’s speech today, including her very important statement that there is no trade-off between economic growth and net zero, and that net zero is the industrial opportunity of the 21st century. The investments in net zero announced today, including in electric vehicle charging points, offshore wind and mining of critical minerals, will all provide jobs and growth. 

“However, not all investments in infrastructure are compatible with the UK’s efforts to reach net zero emissions. The announcement today to support an expansion of airport capacity, including a third runway at Heathrow, could lead to an increase in aviation emissions. This expansion should not proceed until the Government shows exactly how it will be compatible with the UK’s carbon budgets and net zero target.”

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