Substantial reductions in emissions are needed urgently.
In 2022, UK temperatures hit an all-time high of 40.3°C, with the Met Office warning that extreme temperatures will become more commonplace as a result of climate change.
One year later and the UK saw its second-hottest year on record.
And it’s not just rising temperatures – between October 2023 and March 2024, the UK and Ireland witnessed a number of violent storms and heavy rainfall, with the Met Office stating these will only become more frequent and intense.
The food and drink sector is responsible for up to a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2021 study published in the Nature Food journal, but it’s also susceptible to the increased likelihood of crop failures as a result of extreme weather.
Although the UK F&B industry has already started to decarbonise, with a WRAP report noting a reduction of 16% in GHGs between 2015 and 2019, there’s still a way to go.
In November 2022, ahead of COP27, the UK joined the Net Zero Government Initiative as a partner and signatory – which commits participants to reaching Net Zero by 2050.
The UK Government has also set interim targets, notably reducing emissions by 68% by 2030 (verses 1990 levels).
Whilst Rishi Sunak’s revised plans, announced September 2023, saw a U-turn on certain measures, with the then PM stating they are ‘no longer needed’ to fulfil (short-term) targets, the Climate Change Committee’s chair later aired his concerns on this easing and the impact this will have on achieving the UK’s future targets.
Being more efficient with your energy usage is a crucial step up the ‘green ladder’ as the UK aims for Net Zero. But in reality, we need to be climbing two rungs at a time.
In our next webinar, we will be focusing on the transformative potential investment into self-generated renewable technologies can have within the food manufacturing sector.
Professionals in the space will learn not only how self-generating energy can help meet environmental targets, but also understand the options available, from types of renewables technologies to technical and financial considerations.
Learning objectives
- Get acquainted with the various renewable energy options and understand what’s right for you
- Solar
- Wind
- Heat pumps
- Discover the latest innovations in renewables and their impact on industry
- Understand the options for storing energy and ensuring site resilience
- Compare the upfront costs versus long-term savings of implementing self-generation solutions and available financial options
- Learn how to integrate renewable energy into existing operations and effectively monitor and maintain these systems
Register now to secure your place and turbocharge your way towards a sustainable future.