Commenting on the Autumn Statement, our Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Elena Pérez Celis, said:
“We welcome the measures outlined in the Autumn Statement, which demonstrate a strong commitment to boosting investment and fostering economic growth. While we are pleased to see a focus on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), there was no mention of supporting SMEs to report their GHG emissions, which would improve their access to investment and green loans.
The Government’s efforts to incentivize energy efficiency and renewable energy generation are commendable. The inclusion of measures such as the Climate Change Agreement Scheme, VAT relief, and exemptions for the Electricity Generator Levy is particularly welcome.
We also welcome the Government’s announcement of the £960 million Green Industries Growth Accelerator (GIGA). This initiative will enhance manufacturing capabilities in key clean energy sectors, fostering growth opportunities during the net-zero transition.
In the realm of infrastructure development, we appreciate the Government’s proactive approach in removing barriers to investment in critical infrastructure by reforming the planning system to speed up approvals and setting out a plan to reduce the time it takes for new projects to connect to the grid. These reforms will unlock investment towards the low carbon economy.
Unlocking investments to capitalize on the shift to a low-carbon economy is paramount for enhancing growth and we look forward to continuing our work with the Government to mobilise investment towards net zero.”
