COP26 is finally here

And we’re here! Excited that this year’s climate defining event has arrived. It’s been described as a “turning point for humanity” and “the most consequential summit…ever.” I can’t think of another event that has had so much resting on it. The next two weeks are by far the most important for determining the future of the planet.

So it’s with that frame of mind that I think about what could be achieved and what success could look like.

A successful COP26 will signal long-term action with strong alignment across major economies including the US, China, the EU and wider G20 on the pace of change and tangible steps being taken during this decade to cut the carbon we all produce.

That means a transition to electric vehicles, an end to burning coal, and financial support to help nations tackle the impacts of climate change that we already know we’ll see. Clear coordination across the G20 will help turbo charge the changes we’re already seeing in global markets and speed up the shift in business investment towards a zero-carbon economy. 

Whilst in recent weeks and months we’ve seen governments around the world be bigger and bolder on net zero ambitions, for example, most recently the UK presented a net zero strategy that brings many pieces of the decarbonisation puzzle together, now we need to hear about the how. Yes, we need a global strategy for decarbonisation and yes the targets and the commitments are positive steps in the right direction. But right now, more than anything we need to see a leap towards the how, the detail and the concrete action.

I recognise that National Grid absolutely has a role to play in this journey and I’m proud of our contribution so far.

From launching our North Sea Link interconnector last month which will enable the UK to share renewable energy with Norway, moving forward on key net zero projects along the East Coast, advocating the green skills agenda, launching our Voices for a Green Future competition and engaging the UK’s young minds on the challenges ahead – to name a few – it really has been a year of momentum, acceleration and progress.

That said, we know we need to do more. We’ve got some exciting plans to talk about at COP26 and a real opportunity to make a positive impact on our planet. I hope that by the time I’m sitting on the train back to London, we’ll have decisions that will pave the way for bigger action, faster progress and meaningful change.