2 minute read time.

It was an honour to be able to deputise for the IET’s president at UK Department for International Trade (DIT)’s Green Trade and Investment Summit on 1st November.  I think it is the first time DIT have tried this specific format, and as can be imagined with recent politics, there were some short-term changes to the speaker line-up in terms of government Ministers!

Newcastle is a great venue.  The gala dinner was held in a former biscuit factory turned art gallery, and the main event was in the Sage venue with panoramic views across the Tyne.  This location also allowed some to do technical visits on the day before the main event.

I was struck by the sheer diversity of businesses and people who are trying to make a difference in the green economy.  I had a chance to catch up with lots of people I know, but also many new faces, with interests as diverse as banking and finance, renewable energy, the nuclear industry, freeports, low emission vehicles, energy from waste, sustainable aviation fuels, and other areas too numerous to mention.

The main impression I took away was this.  We are in the midst of an energy crisis, deteriorating global security, market volatility, and increasing threats from climate change.  Whilst politics and the news seem ever more volatile, there is a substantial part of the business community who believe that building the green economy isn’t just an opportunity, but it’s essential to future prosperity in the long term, and we need to be taking the chance to address energy security and give us a better quality of life in other respects.  The message I received from many people (regardless of business affiliation) was the vital importance of STEM skills, our profession, and the role we need to play in making this happen.

This might sound like ‘stating the obvious’ to many people reading this, but I think we absolutely need to be telling a positive story about how we as engineers and professionals can contribute in the midst of so much uncertainty and anxiety.

I’m probably not alone in finding the politics of the past couple of years quite frustrating – it seems we have had governments locked in introspective argument rather than tackling the massive challenges we face.  However, in this case I’d say well done to DIT for making an effort to bring businesses together to meet each other and politicians.  The energy sector has been the centre of attention recently with discussions about bills, windfall taxes etc., but it remains the case that changing our energy system is a huge, long-term challenge, and leadership and progress is a collective effort for all of us.

 Do you have any thoughts on how we can share more positive stories around green investment and the contribution made by our profession?

  • We need to focus upon truth backed by indisputable empirical evidence. The rest will follow by default. Forget the politics and focus exclusively upon the evidence and never cease to question it.