The government has relaunched the Net Zero Council, a cohort of business, finance, and civil society leaders providing strategic advice to accelerate UK decarbonisation.
The Council was first introduced in 2023 under Energy Minister Graham Stuart. Following its relaunch, it will be co-chaired by Energy and Net-Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and Co-operative Group’s chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq.
The Council will focus on three key areas: providing expert advice on government strategies for reaching net zero, supporting decarbonisation in high-emitting industries, and engaging businesses to promote climate leadership.
Business and civil society involvement
The initiative includes representatives from major corporations such as Siemens, Nestlé, and HSBC, as well as non-profits and trade unions like WWF, the Design Council, and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Ed Miliband said: “Businesses and leaders across our country recognise that clean power and accelerating towards net zero represents the economic opportunity of the 21st century. This Council is about mission-driven leadership, bringing government, business and civil society together to turn ambition into action.”
Sector-specific net zero roadmaps
The Council’s first meeting set priorities for 2025-2026, including developing sector-specific roadmaps to help businesses transition to net zero. The UK government is required to update its net zero strategy with clearer emissions reduction plans, following a High Court ruling.
Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be another priority. The council aims to help SMEs decarbonise and ensure all sectors benefit from the transition. Public engagement will also be a focus, with the council tasked with developing strategies to inform and involve the public in net zero plans.
A new Delivery Group will oversee the council’s workstreams, tracking progress towards net zero targets.
Council members
The Net Zero Council includes representatives from energy, finance, business, and civil society, including:
- Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive, SSE
- Beverley Cornaby, director, Corporate Leaders Group UK
- Carl Ennis, chief executive, Siemens
- Catherine Pettengell, executive director, Climate Action Network (CAN-UK)
- Chris Hulatt, co-founder, Octopus Investments
- David Thomas, chief executive, Barratt Redrow
- Fintan Slye, chief executive, NESO
- Ian Simm, chief executive, Impax Asset Management
- Ian Stuart, chief executive, HSBC UK
- Jabeer Butt, chief executive, Race Equality Foundation, Everyone’s Environment Coalition
- Joanna Killian, chief executive, Local Government Association (LGA)
- John Scanlon, chief executive, Suez UK
- Mark Versey, chief executive, Aviva Investors
- Martin McTague, national chair, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
- Matt Hammerstein, chief executive, Barclays UK
- Minnie Moll, chief executive, Design Council
- Richard Watson, chief executive, Nestle UK
- Rt Hon Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate, DESNZ
- Sue Ferns, senior deputy general secretary, Prospect, Trades Union Congress (TUC)
- Sue Pritchard, chief executive, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission
- Tanya Steele, chief executive, WWF
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