On Wednesday 22nd January, Policy Connect held a reception in the House of Lords to discuss the sustainability priorities of the new Parliament. The event, chaired by Policy Connect’s head of sustainability, Claudia Jaksch, provided a forum for policy-makers, business leaders, industry members, academics and third sector organisations to discuss the key challenges in sustainability that need to be tackled over the next five years.

Lord Duncan of Springbank, the Minister for Climate Change, gave the key note speech, and spoke about the need to prioritise the decarbonisation of home heating ahead of COP26, as called for in our Future Gas part 3 report, Uncomfortable Home Truths. The event also heard from Luke Pollard MP, Labour Shadow Environment Secretary, Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Climate and Energy Spokesperson, Alan Brown MP, SNP Energy and Climate Change Spokesperson, Rebecca Newsom, Head of Politics at Greenpeace and Mike Thompson, Director of Analysis at the Committee on Climate Change. The need for fast, effective and decisive action on the climate crisis was emphasised by all speakers, as well as a focus on cross-party collaboration.

In anticipation of the Spring Budget, and the re-introduction of the Environment Bill, 2020 is set to be a crucial year for government-led action on climate change.