The UK chemicals industry can play an important role in decarbonising the rest of the economy through the products it provides, as well as being an important source of jobs and regional prosperity. However, it must also align its feedstocks and production processes with net zero. As it is a complex, varied and distributed sector, its transition often gets overlooked in wider planning for net zero.

Green Alliance’s report explores the make up of the sector, what is needed for it to reach net zero, and where current government policy and industry ambitions are insufficient.

Our expert panellists from industry and academia opened up the conversation and explored some of the opportunities and challenges, for the sector and its customers, in aligning with net zero.

The discussion included an audience Q&A.

Panellists:

• Chair: James Murray, editor-in-chief, Business Green
• Liam Hardy, policy analyst, Green Alliance
• Sarah Davidson, technology development lead, Croda International
• Richard Woolley, head of energy and climate change, Chemical Industries Association
• Professor Alice Mah, professor of sociology, University of Warwick