A significant proportion of young energy professionals say they do not feel confident the government’s net zero strategy will achieve the 2050 target, new poll has revealed.
Results of the survey, undertaken in July, were published on Wednesday (10 November) by the Energy UK-backed Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Forum, a network of individuals with less than 10 years’ experience in the sector.
Designed to amplify young industry voices on the subjects being discussed at COP26, the survey of 200 people was based along the COP themes of adaptation, mitigation, finance and collaboration.
In total, less than half (47%) of respondents said they had confidence in the government’s plans to reach net zero by 2050. Among these, men were more likely to express confidence (59%) than women (40%).
Among the main barriers highlighted by those with little confidence in the net zero plans was a perception that large companies have been slow to invest in renewable energy and that policy can be slow to implement.
Additionally respondents said there is “little clarity and direction” in the government’s net zero policies and the strategy is “ill-defined”.
When asked how they would rate the UK’s international climate leadership compared to other countries, just under half (49%) viewed UK climate leadership as being ahead of other countries and one in eight viewed the UK to be behind other countries.
YEPs working in either the nuclear or renewables fields were more likely to place the UK’s leadership ahead of other countries as opposed to those working in oil and gas.
Elsewhere, the survey asked if there is sufficient focus on how the UK’s transition to net zero will affect vulnerable customers.
Just one in ten feel there is currently sufficient focus on how the transition will impact more vulnerable customers, almost eight of ten say that more focus is required and slightly more than half believe much greater focus is required.
Furthermore, some respondents said their organisation’s approach to feeding in ideas on net zero was less clear than it can be, with siloed cultures of working where there can be limited opportunities to engage and contribute to the overall company strategy.
The survey highlighted top heavy company structures where decisions are only made by senior executives and a lack of encouragement to get involved with decision making.
YEP Forum chair and senior business consultant for CGI, Caroline Gundu, said: “As young professionals in the sector, representing players in the energy value chain from generators, to suppliers, consumer groups and consultancies, we have worked collaboratively to produce this body of work.
“This report captures the views of Young Energy Professionals on the UK’s current delivery and progress toward the 2050 net zero target. We have provided interesting and some out-of-the-box recommendations for readers to explore.
“We are keen to engage with senior leaders in the sector on our findings and identify how young professionals can take a more active role and contribute as we pave the way to net zero.”