The CBI Conference was held last week and the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, spoke to address his so-called Green Industrial Revolution.
Personal Anecdotes
In his speech, the PM talked about his history with supercars and his disappointment with the EVs he had driven. He lamented the lack of ‘car sound’ from EVs.
He also spoke of his memories of coal barges that took fuel to Battersea power station – and how this was closed (before he was elected Mayor of London) due to excessive pollution.
Finally, and bizarrely, he talked about Peppa Pig World. He showed real enthusiasm for the children’s cartoon (possibly more enthusiasm than he had shown for the serious notes of his speech).
Government Policy
There was much talk from the Prime Minister on the green initiatives within the net zero strategy.
There is a promise of investment in infrastructure, with a focus on power generation, transport networks and broadband.
Although wind power was mentioned, and the PM talked about the turbines off the North Tyneside coast, emphasis was placed on nuclear power.
Transport will be electrified, including rail and road – with electric cars and buses on the agenda.
Super fast broadband will be rolled out to all parts of the country – connecting homes – but the Government will still encourage the return to the office and to ditch working from home.
Fantasy Land
Despite these promises, “Government cannot fix everything” was the message from Mr Johnson, it is instead “the energy and dynamism and originality of the private sector” that will drive us forward.
The truth is that the private sector has known for decades that we must end our use of fossil fuels, but the market has been slow to change.
When driven by a legal obligation to shareholders – and profits – why would a business risk a successful model and implement changes they are not required to make.
Instead of change, we have seen business as usual from the majority of business leaders.
Although some businesses are now trying to do the right thing – the drive for profit will mean that the majority of businesses will not embrace radical change for fear that their competitors will simply take their customers.
Therefore, businesses need government leadership to make change the norm in the market.
This must come from support for transition – but also from regulation to change industry standards.
However, the PM has claimed that “government should make sure there is less regulation”. This accepts the status quo at a time when we need urgent change.
It would seem that Mr Johnson may be living in the land of Peppa Pig.