Focused on five key themes – Energy, Adaption and Resilience, Cleaner Transportation, Green Finance, and Nature – the report sets out key opportunities for business, and case studies of how UK and Chinese firms are already working together to drive the low carbon transition through their investment, their technologies, and their services.
Opportunities include London building on its pre-eminent position as a financial services centre and becoming the global centre for carbon trading; how the UK can become a standard-setter for green finance; capacity and technical opportunities for UK expertise across sectors; and opportunities for UK professional services to ‘export’ their expertise. This is notwithstanding the already strong record of Chinese firms investing in low carbon sectors and initiatives in the UK, bringing mutual benefit, such as sharing of technologies, significant economies of scale, and decreasing the cost of capital.
“Today’s report shines a light on the importance of strong and positive business and trade relations with China,” says Andrew Seaton, CBBC’s Chief Executive. “British firms are already doing important work with and in China in low carbon technologies. But there is much more to do. The world’s eyes are on COP26 in Glasgow. China is currently the world’s largest carbon emitter. Its transition towards a zero-carbon future is critical for the global climate effort. And it is a transition which offers an immense opportunity for UK business. And not just for large companies, but for all British firms – some of the most innovative in the world – of all sizes, in all sectors, and across all regions of the UK.”
“British firms are already doing important work with and in China in low carbon technologies but there is much more to do.” CBBC Chief Executive, Andrew Seaton
Amongst case studies demonstrating the opportunities that cooperation between the UK and Chinese businesses presents are Sunamp, London Stock Exchange, CGN, Alexander Dennis, China Resources Power, XAG, Wood Plc, the Met Office and HSBC.
Red Rock Power Ltd is also among the firms involved thanks to its expertise in offshore wind . The Edinburgh-based renewables firm was founded by Beijing’s SDIC Power in 2016 and has more than tripled in size since then. The UK has the world’s largest installed capacity in offshore wind, while China last year alone increased its wind capacity by 60% – enough electricity to power every home in the UK three times over.
Another highlight is the UK-China Green Finance Taskforce, co-established by the City of London Corporation and China Green Finance Committee, and now with 13 Chinese and UK financial institutions. The Taskforce has announced the formation of the Secretariat for the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road (GIP), which now has 40 signatories with overall assets amounting to over $48 trillion worldwide.
“Tackling climate change is one of the biggest issues that the world is facing. COP26 has provided opportunities for government, business and communities from around the world to engage in these issues and provide solutions,” says Scottish Government Minister for Business Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee.
“The ‘Targeting Net Zero’ report is an excellent example of how Chinese and British businesses can work together to support and achieve Net Zero targets. Scotland has a range of strengths in the energy transition sector, including hydrogen and low carbon projects, and we look forward to sharing our knowledge and finding opportunities for further collaboration with businesses in China,” says McKee.
KPMG’s Net Zero Readiness Index, comparing the likelihood of 32 major economies reaching Net-Zero by 2050, places the UK at number two, while China is further back at number 20. This reflects the different stages of development of the two economies.
But both the UK and China have set ambitious targets for themselves under the Paris Agreement. China has committed to reach peak emissions by 2030, and to become carbon neutral by 2060. Meanwhile, the UK was the first major economy to commit to Net Zero by 2050.
“Climate change is a global problem requiring global solutions and new forms of collaboration around the world. Innovation in new low carbon technologies will be key to solving the climate crisis. The ‘Glasgow Breakthrough’ priorities identified at COP26 are all critical to meeting the Paris Agreement targets,” says Simon Virley, Vice Chair and Head of Energy and Natural Resources at KPMG UK. The UK-China Road to Net Zero report highlights the key areas where UK and China businesses can work together and lead the world as we make the transition to a Net Zero economy,” says Virley.
At a time when many UK companies are facing tough trading conditions at home and internationally, the China opportunity is more important than ever for UK businesses and jobs, especially in relation to the UK’s post-Covid recovery.
The report highlights the benefits to the UK economy and the importance of a healthy trade and investment relationship with China, with it expected to become the world’s largest economy by 2030.
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