Wednesday 3 February 2021

‘West Midlands can become net zero by 2041’

A proposed five-year plan has set out how the West Midlands can achieve its target of becoming net zero by 2041.

The plan, written by independent experts and commissioned by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), sets out what the region needs to have achieved by 2026 if it is to meet its target.

It states the region’s need for a 25% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2026. Due to the increase in green industries and technologies that would be required, it has also found that more than 21,000 new jobs could be created by 2026, with this possibly rising to 92,000 by 2041.

The WMCA admits the plan is demanding but feels it is attainable if there is collaboration between councils, businesses, government and the public throughout the region.

Significant investment will also be needed, with a predicted £4.7 billion spend in the first five years resulting in a total of £15.4 billion by 2041.

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, said: “With the publication of this plan, we are outlining the enormous opportunity that the transition to net zero presents for our region. Up to 92,000 jobs could be created in new green industries across all our economic sectors. Construction, manufacturing, transport, hospitality all stand to benefit from this transformational effort.

“This is what makes it so important that our journey to net zero involves the whole region. Public, private and third sectors will all need to work together, and we have made sure to consult them thoroughly on the creation of this plan. I am ambitious that we can deliver the scale of change required to reach this target and I am excited by the opportunities presented by it.”