The government has launched its long awaited net zero strategy, which includes plans to implement a zero-emission vehicle mandate and details of widescale investment across a number of green technologies.

As part of the new strategy, the government has pledged an extra £350 million of its up to £1 billion commitment to support the electrification of UK vehicles and their supply chains.

Additionally, it is putting forward £620 million for targeted electric vehicle grants and infrastructure, particularly local on-street residential charge points, with plans to put thousands more zero-emission cars and vans onto UK roads through the zero-emission vehicle mandate.

The government said that the new strategy, which builds on the prime minister's existing 10 Point Plan, would secure 440,000 well-paid jobs and unlock £90 million in investment in 2030, as it moves towards its overall target of net zero by 2050.

“The UK’s path to ending our contribution to climate change will be paved with well-paid jobs, billions in investment and thriving green industries – powering our green industrial revolution across the country,” said prime minister Boris Johnson. “By moving first and taking bold action, we will build a defining competitive edge in electric vehicles, offshore wind, carbon capture technology and more, whilst supporting people and businesses along the way.”

Johnson continued: “With the major climate summit COP26 just around the corner, our strategy sets the example for other countries to build back greener too as we lead the charge towards global net zero.”

The government added that it is working to begin the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is made from materials such as everyday household waste, spending £180 million in total to deliver 10 per cent SAF by 2030.

It will also spend £140 million on an industrial and hydrogen revenue support scheme which aims to accelerate industrial carbon capture and hydrogen.

A further £500 million will go towards innovation projects to develop green technologies, while £3.9 billion has been pledged towards decarbonising heat and buildings.

“Climate tech is critical to achieving Net Zero and EV technologies are increasingly offering the solutions needed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the most carbon-intensive sector such as road transport,” said Gerard Grech, chief executive of Tech Nation. “We're seeing significant growth in electric vehicles technologies, which the UK is a leading global innovator in, along with other net-zero technologies.

“There are 519 net zero start-ups and scaleups in the UK, nearly double the number in France (270) and 63% more than in Germany (318). These companies are scaling rapidly; in the first half of 2021 alone, UK tech companies tackling UN SDGs have raised $1.2bn.”

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