New year, new challenges!
Working with some of the world’s most ambitious organisations has given us incredible insights into the future of net zero. To mark the start of an exciting new year, we collated a selection of ideas from our Research, Marketing, and Account Management teams, opening up our wealth of knowledge by putting the spotlight on the latest and greatest topics of 2022.
Here’s a forward look at the most interesting trends that are likely to dominate 2022 and the years following:
Unlocking shared solutions for EVs – Alie King (Research & Collaboration Officer)
Looking ahead, we are likely to see a rise of transformational change towards electric vehicle uptake greater than ever before, due to new climate commitments from COP26 last year. Many recognise the need to drive critical change and unlock solutions from collective demand.
It is predicted that the number of battery electric vehicles sold in the UK is likely to double this year, despite the global shortage of semiconductors in the market.
Moreover, the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics dataset shows that the number of ULEV vehicles in the UK has skyrocketed from approximately 9,000 at the end of Q1 2010 to a mind-blowing 565,000 at the end of Q2 2021.
It goes without saying that 2022 provides a massive opportunity for an increase of collaboration, particularly within the space of shared infrastructure and shared mobility. It is really interesting to see that more organisations, both private and public, are coming together as a united front to tackle key barriers to the uptake of low emission transport – such as accessibility, availability and affordability – through collaboration, innovation and shared risk.
The year of Climate Innovation – Maggie Wong (Head of Marketing)
To fully decarbonise and reach net zero within the next decade, many organisations will likely have to embed cutting-edge, never-before-seen technologies or solutions into their operations. Climate innovation will no doubt be one of the most important keys to closing this large gap between ambitious goals and current actions.
The great news is tech companies have thrived during the pandemic. Investment in climate tech from venture capital and private equity has more than tripled in the last year.
An example of breakthrough climate innovation can be observed in the form of incredibly useful emerging technologies for buildings, transport, infrastructure and other areas, such as smart sensors, AI, machine learning, internet-of-things, blockchain etc. And that’s just naming a few. We’re continuing to see our innovators’ tech solutions go from strength to strength. This will surely be the year of ground-breaking Climate Innovation!
Watch our space to learn about the latest climate innovations adopted by the world’s most ambitious organisations.
New era of ESG – Matt Workman (Account Manager)
Given the rise in prominence of ESG through the pandemic, it is likely that ESG data will increase in both quality and quantity. However, it is bound to remain difficult for stakeholders and investors to understand unless the 34+ regulatory bodies and standards begin to conform to a common standard.
On a more positive note, it will be harder than ever for organisations to be successful in attempts of greenwashing as stakeholders are increasingly aware of this.
With carbon emissions now being well understood and reported, it is likely that the post-COP26 focus will shift to other areas where commitments were made, such as biodiversity and methane emissions. Besides the environmental aspect, it is predicted that the focus could shift to the social component of ESG, with organisations needing to be aware of diversity and inclusion, as well as the inequitable impacts of their operations.
Hopefully we can all take major steps on 2022 to become more sustainable in a just and fair manner.
Busting the myth of Hydrogen – Zoë Parminter (Head of Research)
Hydrogen is a hot topic as we go into 2022, but it is a contentious one too. It is seen as the future of low carbon heating, and even spoken about as a competitor to electric vehicles, but without serious investment in infrastructure and innovative technologies, is hydrogen as low carbon as people claim it to be?
Currently almost all the world’s hydrogen is classed either black, grey, or blue hydrogen, which means it requires fossil fuels to produce.
While there are several different ‘colours’ of hydrogen that are not produced using fossil fuels, these currently make up less than 1% of all hydrogen worldwide.
Hydrogen undeniably plays a large part in net zero strategies, and I look forward to seeing the developments in both technology and funding that happen throughout 2022 to make this fascinating technology a truly zero-carbon alternative to natural gas!
Want to find out how we can help you solve your most wicked net zero challenges (whether it’s around EV, climate innovation, ESG, hydrogen, or something else)? Speak to one of our team members today.