The former energy and climate minister has been given until the end of the year to present his findings to the prime minister. Skidmore, who chairs the environment cross-party caucus, has campaigned for his party to take net zero more seriously. He said: “I am delighted to have been invited by the Prime Minister to conduct the review. It is essential that government delivers net zero, and does so in a way that is pro-business and pro-growth. I can’t wait to get started.” He told the Guardian during his tour of North West England to promote net zero: “As the former energy and climate secretary who signed net zero by 2050 into law, I am determined to show that net zero is not just about going green; it is necessary for future economic growth. One of the reasons I’m on tour with the all-party environment group I chair is to show how net zero will benefit people’s lives in every region.” He said the review would look at how to incentivize businesses to follow the green industrial revolution and increase growth. “There is a green industrial revolution happening across the country and Westminster is slow to wake up. Businesses simply continue with net zero. But beyond government support, we need to go further to create a supply-side and demand-side revolution in renewable and clean energy sources and energy efficiency measures. “That means looking again at how we can change and reform economic incentives, regulations, programming and more to make net zero even easier and unleash a clean economic growth revolution.” During the leadership campaign, Skidmore was part of a small group of Conservative MPs, including Cop26 chairman Alok Sharma and environment minister Zac Goldsmith, who encouraged candidates to sign the net zero pledge. Truss signed on at the time and said she would look at how to implement net zero while encouraging economic growth. The most important stories on the planet. Get all the week’s environmental news – the good, the bad and the must-haves Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Environmental campaigners viewed her cabinet choices with dismay, as she made Jacob Rees-Mogg business and energy secretary, and has been skeptical about climate action in the past. Truss also made former think tank chief Matthew Sinclair, who said global warming could bring benefits, an economic adviser. There has also been concern over Truss’ plans to end the moratorium on fracking, as it could signal a desire to appease her party’s more climate-sceptical right wing by focusing on expanding fossil fuels over measures such as renewable energy and insulation . He ruled out a windfall tax to help with energy bills at first Prime Minister’s Questions against Keir Starmer, adding: “I think it’s wrong to block companies from investing in the UK, just when we need to grow. the economy.”
