Paul Pearcy, Senior Environmental Advisor at British Glass said, ”In 2019 the UK government set a legally binding target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero by 2050. The target will be extremely challenging for the glass sector given the uncertainty in the future policy and energy landscape and the long investment cycles associated with furnace technologies. We hope that these webinars will kickstart the step changes the industry as a whole will need to deliver net-zero.”
The first webinar, The net zero outlook, on 15 October will feature presentations from Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Baroness Brown of Cambridge and the Industrial energy team from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
After introductions by British Glass CEO, Dave Dalton, Professor Maroto-Valer, of the Champion UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre, will focus on the global and business threat of climate change – opening eyes to the challenges that face us all in the coming years.
Following on Deputy director of the Climate Change Committee, Baroness Brown will speak to what industry needs to deliver net zero by the 2050 target.
The session will finish with an update on the industrial decarbonisation strategy and provide the opportunity for questions.
For the second session, Net zero in the glass industry, on 22 October Antonia Mattos, Principal consultant at Element Energy, Rob Ireson of Glass Futures and David Cast, Climate change director at Pilkington UK will specifically address the challenges facing glass manufacturers – what the industry are doing and more is needed to achieve the 2050 targets.
Presentations on the day will be from Element energy a specialist consultant working with government departments, local distribution networks and Glass Futures on decarbonisation specifically modelling future scenarios.
Glass Futures is a not-for-profit company working towards a centre of excellence in glass that will comprise R&D, innovation, technology incubation and implementation, training, and up-skilling.
David Cast will complete the external presentations with insights into Pilkington’s net zero ambition.
Finally, the British Glass team will look at the next steps for finalising a net zero strategy for the glass industry.
For full programme information and to register please visit www.britglass.co.uk/knowledge-base/events-and-training.