{"id":543073,"date":"2026-04-21T15:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/543073\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T15:48:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:48:14","slug":"the-era-of-clean-energy-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/543073\/","title":{"rendered":"The era of clean energy security"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thank you Praful Nargund for that introduction\u00a0and can I congratulate you and all your partners on the National Growth Debate.\u00a0The Good Growth Foundation is obviously playing a really\u00a0important role,\u00a0so thank you so much.<\/p>\n

And it is a privilege to be here at the National Growth Debate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This summit tackles one of the defining questions for Britain in 2026, which is how we drive the growth needed to raise living standards and create good jobs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now in just the last few weeks,\u00a0this government\u00a0has:\u00a0<\/p>\n

signed the contracts for the UK\u2019s first fleet of small modular reactors
\n consented the UK\u2019s largest ever solar project
\n published our plan to implement the Fingleton Review as we take a pro-nuclear, pro-nature approach to building in this country<\/p>\n

And\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0seen historic investments in hydrogen, floating wind, and wind turbine manufacturing, the latest steps in our plan to\u00a0work with businesses and trade unions to\u00a0reindustrialise Britain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This government believes\u00a0that\u00a0clean energy is the great industrial and economic project for our country in the 21st\u00a0century.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

But\u00a0what I want to argue today, and I warn you this is a bit nerdy,\u00a0is that it is even more important, our clean energy mission,\u00a0given what has unfolded in the last few weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And I want to make an\u00a0argument\u00a0to you in this speech which is\u00a0threefold:\u00a0<\/p>\n

First, as we face the second fossil fuel shock in less than 5 years, the lesson for our country is clear:\u00a0\u00a0The era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Britain and so many other countries, clean energy is now the only route to financial security, energy\u00a0security\u00a0and\u00a0indeed\u00a0national security.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The second\u00a0part of my argument is that\u00a0since taking office 2 years ago, the government has been relentless in our efforts to build clean power at speed and drive electrification across the economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And while some have said we have gone too far and too fast, I profoundly disagree. Actually, I believe the opposite is true.<\/p>\n

In response to recent events, our actions must now be faster,\u00a0deeper\u00a0and more wide-ranging if we are to protect our security.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

We have not a moment to waste.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And that is why, as I will explain today, we will double down,\u00a0not back down on our mission for clean energy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Third,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not going to\u00a0let Britain learn the wrong lessons\u00a0and have us end up back here all over again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The North Sea is\u00a0an important resource\u00a0for our country which we will continue to use for decades to come.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I do not agree with those who say we should \u201cturn off the taps\u201d overnight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But nor do I agree with those who suggest that somehow \u201cdrilling every last drop\u201d will take a penny off bills or give us energy security.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Indeed, an answer to this crisis that rejects clean energy and doubles down on fossil fuels is a recipe for energy insecurity in perpetuity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

You\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0solve a fossil fuel crisis by doubling down on fossil fuels.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So let me now take you through the argument.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So first, it is now clear the world faces the second fossil fuel shock of this decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The most important\u00a0objective\u00a0remains working for a permanent ceasefire and getting\u00a0shipping\u00a0flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But even if we do that, recent events will reverberate across oil and gas markets at least for some months to come.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now from the moment this conflict began our immediate response and responsibility as a government has been to fight people\u2019s corner in the face of global events.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because we know it is ordinary working people who are most exposed to the impacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s\u00a0why following our action that reduced the energy price cap in April, we have worked to help vulnerable families and expanded bills support to thousands of businesses.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

And however long this crisis goes on for we will continue to support families and businesses and intervene\u00a0where\u00a0necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But,\u00a0and this is the main point of this speech,\u00a0we are also determined to learn the right lessons of what we have seen in the last 4 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine caused global energy prices to surge and did huge damage to family finances, business\u00a0finances\u00a0and the public finances,\u00a0frankly\u00a0from which we are still\u00a0seeking\u00a0to recover.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And here we are\u00a0all over\u00a0again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The same story of events around the world threatening families and businesses at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And\u00a0here\u2019s\u00a0the thing\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0got to make a judgement about \u2013 all of us have got to make a judgement about \u2013\u00a0I believe this\u00a0is for\u00a0one simple reason: because Britain is so exposed to international fossil fuel markets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re\u00a0exposed in our electricity system because 30% of generation comes from gas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And even more so, and\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0come onto this,\u00a0because even when we use renewables and nuclear, gas often sets the price.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re\u00a0exposed in how we keep our homes warm, because around 90% of families rely on gas or oil for their heating.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re\u00a0exposed in our businesses and industry, because around 70% of industrial processes also rely on fossil fuels.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0exposed in how we fuel our vehicles, because around 90% of cars on our roads run on petrol or diesel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And the reason this leaves us so vulnerable is because the price of these fossil fuels is set on the international market, regardless of where they come from.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is the fundamental energy and economics lesson of this crisis.<\/p>\n

Now truthfully, this has been a huge drag on growth and living standards for decades,\u00a0because\u00a0half of the UK\u2019s recessions since 1970\u00a0have been\u00a0caused by fossil fuel shocks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And now a more dangerous world increases the risks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To ignore one fossil fuel crisis and carry on with business as usual, as some wanted to do, was wrong.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

To ignore 2 in less than 5 years would be completely irresponsible.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And it would be even more irresponsible because unlike the twin fossil fuel shocks of the 1970s, there is now a compelling alternative in the form of clean energy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

An alternative that cannot be disrupted by foreign wars because it comes from our own wind,\u00a0sun\u00a0and nuclear resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0subject to global price shocks because it is locked in at stable prices here at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That can create hundreds of thousands of good jobs and\u00a0indeed\u00a0drive growth\u00a0\u2013 a concern of the Good Growth Foundation obviously\u00a0\u2013\u00a0as we use more efficient electrified technologies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And an alternative that will help tackle the climate crisis to protect our children and grandchildren.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Indeed, we already see\u00a0and this is really, really, I think\u00a0an\u00a0important point\u00a0that\u00a0maybe overlooked\u00a0part of the debate, we already see\u00a0how clean energy is helping protect Britain and other countries during this crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since 2010, homegrown renewables in the UK have gone from generating around 7% of our electricity to over 50% today.<\/p>\n

Independent analysis shows these renewables have cut the wholesale price of electricity, and this is a very important point, I think I should give some credit I think it\u2019s from the ECIU, have cut the wholesale price of\u00a0electricity\u00a0by up to a quarter in recent years, helping shield us during this crisis by displacing volatile gas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And around the world we see how different countries are insulating their economies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like Spain, which has doubled its wind and solar capacity since 2019 and dramatically reduced the influence of gas on power prices.\u00a0<\/p>\n

France, which has responded to this latest crisis with a plan to double investment in electrification.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And Pakistan, which has seen a solar boom in the years since the invasion of Ukraine.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0around the world a new paradigm of clean energy security is\u00a0emerging.<\/p>\n

And informed by the lessons of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine,\u00a0with a mission\u00a0established\u00a0– with a mission, and I should give credit to the godmother of missions, Marianna Mazzucato, who\u2019s with us – established when we were in opposition in the UK since we came to office, we have been putting the full weight of government behind making Britain a clean energy superpower.<\/p>\n

This mission has always had 2 parts\u2014driving to a clean electricity system but also electrifying as much as we can, as we decarbonise the wider economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My department has been driving this mission at full pelt since July 2024.<\/p>\n

Recent events show once again why this mission is the energy security,\u00a0business\u00a0and growth imperative for this country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And\u00a0as I said at the outset,\u00a0while some think we have gone too fast, I disagree.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I think the overwhelming lesson of this crisis\u00a0is we need to go faster still.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because every solar panel we put up, every wind turbine we build, every heat pump we install, every EV on the road makes our country more secure.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

So that takes me to the second part of my remarks which is how we need to go faster, and\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a03 parts to this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So first, we will speed up our drive for clean power.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In less than 2 years we have secured enough clean, homegrown power for the equivalent of 23 million homes through 2 record-breaking renewables auctions\u00a0and\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0got business folk in the room, thank you to them for being part of that process,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0really important.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve\u00a0invested in the biggest nuclear building programme in half a century, something\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0incredibly proud of.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And relentlessly broken down the barriers in the way of building, from planning reform to fixing the dysfunctional grid queue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And in the first weeks of this conflict, we announced that we would step up these efforts by bringing forward our next renewables auction to July.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today we go even further.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Building on public land offers a huge opportunity to fast-track the rollout of renewables in this country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And for too long we have failed to seize this opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0my department will work hand in hand with Great British Energy, the Ministry of Defence, Network Rail, Forestry\u00a0England\u00a0and other public landowners to build wind, solar and batteries.\u00a0Honestly this is a no brainer,\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0got vast amounts of public land that could be used to make us more secure and indeed generate revenue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0going to\u00a0harness untapped public assets, from railway warehouses to unused brownfield sites, to significantly expand the pipeline of renewables.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sure there\u2019s people in this room\u00a0who\u2019ve\u00a0got ideas on\u00a0this,\u00a0we\u2019d\u00a0love to hear from you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This\u00a0could unlock around 10GW of capacity,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0a cautious estimate,\u00a0even using only a fraction of government land.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re\u00a0also\u00a0going to\u00a0step up our work to get critical clean energy projects built across the board, including accelerating the vital grid infrastructure we need.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And look the stakes could not be higher: every irrational bureaucratic obstacle in the way of clean energy leaves us more insecure as a country.\u00a0I\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0go through all the package of\u00a0very detailed\u00a0reforms today, but\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0setting out a whole package of them\u00a0to get the grid we need built, from land access rules to networks consenting, as well as plans to extend permitted development rights and expand self-build for grid connections.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And it\u00a0goes\u00a0to my view about this which is that we need the British Cycling team philosophy which is that every incremental gain makes a significant\u00a0difference.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u2019re\u00a0going to\u00a0leave no stone unturned as we mobilise the power of government to build this infrastructure at speed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Second,\u00a0and maybe this is the part of our mission\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0had less attention publicly, is that\u00a0even this is not enough because if we continue to use fossil fuels to heat our\u00a0homes and businesses\u00a0and power our vehicles, we will remain exposed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0we will also accelerate our efforts to drive electrification across the economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even before the Iran war we were seeing record demand for technologies like rooftop solar, batteries, heat\u00a0pumps\u00a0and electric vehicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And in the teeth of this crisis\u00a0for\u00a0totally understandable\u00a0reasons,\u00a0demand for them is surging:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Octopus\u00a0\u2013\u00a0you had Greg on earlier\u00a0\u2013\u00a0report that solar panel sales rose by more than 75%\u00a0– sounds like an advert for Octopus this, there are other companies available –\u00a0and heat pump sales doubled between February and March.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

And March was the best month ever for EV sales in the UK.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before this crisis it was already often cheaper to run an EV than a petrol or diesel car,\u00a0but\u00a0last week\u00a0we had very exciting news that probably all of you will know,\u00a0which is\u00a0Autotrader said new electric cars are now on average cheaper to buy than petrol cars for the first time.\u00a0That\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0big moment,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a sort of crossover of the moment that people have been talking about.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And with the right tariff, running a heat pump can be cheaper than a gas boiler.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I just want to say this, no matter what some\u00a0people\u00a0would\u00a0have us\u00a0believe, solar panels, heat pumps and EVs are not \u201cwoke\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

They are common sense.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opponents of clean energy want to stand in the way of what the British public want,\u00a0the difference is\u00a0we want to support them\u00a0in this\u00a0endeavour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And we are also determined,\u00a0and this is important,\u00a0to ensure everyone not just the richest in society can see the benefits.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

That is why earlier this year we introduced rules to ensure new homes are built with solar and clean heating as standard,\u00a0the so-called Future Homes Standard \u2013 incredibly important and people have been waiting a long time for this –\u00a0alongside the biggest public investment in home electrification in history through our \u00a315 billion Warm Homes Plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is the important social justice element of this mission.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We also want to do everything we can to protect families before next winter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is just the\u00a0start\u00a0of what\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0doing\u00a0today with bringing forward \u00a3100\u00a0million\u00a0of funding, in addition to existing plans,\u00a0to\u00a0upgrade tens of thousands more social homes this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We also know that families and small businesses who use heating oil and LPG have been particularly exposed to rising prices.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0building on the success of our \u00a37,500 heat pumps grants, we are announcing a supplement available for those reliant on heating oil or LPG, bringing it to \u00a39,000 for the duration of the coming year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Something\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0really excited about and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sure you\u00a0are too is\u00a0plug in solar in outside spaces, it\u00a0offers an incredibly exciting opportunity for consumers to\u00a0benefit\u00a0from\u00a0clean power.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Half a million families installed it in Germany last year alone, and we will bring it to the UK later this year\u00a0and we are\u00a0absolutely\u00a0motoring on getting this into the shops.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0also worth saying, we recognise cost\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0the only barrier consumers face.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So today we are also announcing that we are removing barriers to on-street EV charging, and\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0continuing with our record rollout of charging infrastructure, alongside the 2030 phase out date for new petrol and diesel cars.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s\u00a0lots of other important announcements\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0making today like more solar on rooftops of schools, which\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0working with my colleague Bridget Philipson on to help schools\u00a0cut their energy bills and transfer money into\u00a0frontline\u00a0teaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0the second part of my remarks, spreading electrification across the economy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Third, there is another crucial element\u00a0\u2013 this is the bit\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0all been waiting for –\u00a0of ending our dependence and insecurity\u00a0and that is on delinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As we get off fossil fuels, we must also break the link to them in our electricity prices.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The structure of our energy system means that today, volatile gas usually sets the wholesale price of electricity, meaning that at those times, many renewables and nuclear generators get paid the gas price.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At times of crisis, like now, this compounds the impact of fossil fuel shocks on families and businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And\u00a0indeed\u00a0drives large windfall profits for some electricity generators.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0important to say this, we have already moved from gas setting the price of electricity around 90% of the time in the early 2020s, to around 60% today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And thanks to our clean power mission, we estimate gas will set the wholesale price around half of the time by 2030.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But in addition to that,\u00a0by building clean power we are expanding the proportion of generation on long-term fixed price contracts, that\u2019s\u00a0CfDs,\u00a0from around 20% today to over 60% by 2030, which is crucial because it helps break the link with volatile gas even further.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But we have concluded that evolution in breaking this link is not enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So today the Chancellor and I set out how we will\u00a0take this\u00a0further.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From next year we will seek to transfer legacy low carbon generators, which supply about a third of our power today, onto fixed price contracts that deliver value for money for consumers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now this, I want to be clear about this, this\u00a0will be a voluntary decision for those generators.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But because of the tax decisions the Chancellor is announcing today, both extending the\u00a0EGL, the\u00a0Electricity Generator Levy,\u00a0and raising the rate, we will significantly change the economic incentives for them to do so.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Together, these measures will accelerate the delinking of gas and electricity prices, making funds available to support families and businesses with the impacts of this conflict on the cost of living.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For too long, governments have failed to grapple with this challenge\u00a0of delinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This government is taking decisive action.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Third part of my remarks – as we learn the right lessons from this crisis, we must avoid learning the wrong ones.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There has been a lot of debate about the North Sea in recent weeks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some people say we should cease all drilling and turn off the taps.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I disagree with this position.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Others say we should drill\u00a0every last\u00a0drop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I also think this\u00a0is the wrong position.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As set out in our manifesto, this government is pursuing the sensible pragmatic course.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Production from the North Sea is an important and valuable resource, and its workforce is a vital asset for this country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That is why we are harnessing our domestic supply by keeping existing fields open for their lifetime, decades into the future and, as announced in our North Sea Future Plan\u00a0last year, enabling tiebacks for these fields through our Transitional Energy Certificates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And today in advance of legislation, we are publishing further details on Transitional Energy Certificates to provide greater certainty and clarity for industry looking to invest in already-explored areas near existing licensed fields, supporting a fair and managed transition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some people will oppose this policy, but\u00a0I think they\u00a0are wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our position is rooted in a plan for a just transition and a fair-minded analysis of what the science demands.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the other side of the argument from those who would turn off the taps, there are those who say we should drill\u00a0every last\u00a0drop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I just want to talk about this position and why I disagree with it for a minute.\u00a0I think this position\u00a0relies on a series of myths which the evidence simply does not support.\u00a0<\/p>\n

First, drilling\u00a0every last\u00a0drop will not take a penny off bills.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because fossil fuels are sold on global markets no matter where they are produced\u2014and North Sea production is simply too marginal to make any difference to this global price.<\/p>\n

Second, drilling\u00a0every last\u00a0drop cannot give us energy security.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The North Sea is a mature and declining basin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Production in the North Sea has already declined by 75% over the course of this century and it no longer has sufficient resources to meet our needs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a result, we have been net importers for 20 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

New exploration\u00a0licences, which we are ending, would as the independent National Energy System Operator says, make no material difference to capacity and therefore security of supply.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And\u00a0the industry itself recognises, the vast majority of potential North Sea future production comes from existing fields.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Indeed, according to analysis from the North Sea Transition Authority fewer than 10% of exploration licences issued in the last decade have progressed to active production at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But third\u00a0then, some people have said that\u00a0despite the fact that\u00a0new licences\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0lower prices and\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0give us energy security, we should issue them anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But in saying this they would\u00a0just\u00a0ignore the reality of the accelerating climate crisis, which is the greatest long-term threat multiplier we face.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You see, every piece of credible scientific evidence says that if every country took that approach and drilled\u00a0every last\u00a0drop, it would take us to global warming well past 2 degrees to 3 degrees and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And this view of the dangers of unlimited fossil fuel extraction is\u00a0not just my view, it is\u00a0supported by the International Energy Agency and the respected Energy Transition Commission, which includes members from the energy industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And by providing global leadership on this issue, Britain has helped assemble a coalition of 82 countries committed to the transition away from fossil fuels the world desperately needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I just want to be\u00a0very clear\u00a0about this:\u00a0<\/p>\n

I will not betray the future generations of this country by acting\u00a0on the basis of\u00a0myth,\u00a0falsehood\u00a0and misinformation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Faced with the 2 positions of \u201cevery last drop\u201d and \u201cturn off the taps\u201d,\u00a0we will\u00a0maintain\u00a0our pragmatic, sensible position for a managed transition in the North Sea.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

And we will\u00a0also\u00a0stand firm against those who want to abandon our clean energy future.<\/p>\n

The National Energy System Operator, and honestly you should all read this report,\u00a0is\u00a0very clear\u00a0that falling behind on net zero presents the biggest risks to our energy security because it would leave us more dependent on gas including imports.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve\u00a0seen over \u00a390\u00a0billion\u00a0of private investment announced in clean energy since this government came to office.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Climate Change Committee shows a single fossil fuel shock could cost as much as the entire\u00a0additional\u00a0investment\u00a0required\u00a0to reach net zero\u00a0between now and 2050.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0to sum up,\u00a0as Britain grapples with a more uncertain and insecure world there are 2 paths\u00a0opening up\u00a0in this debate:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Between doubling down on a future built on the rock of clean power and electrification or retreating to the comfort of false solutions that would do nothing for our security and leave us brutally exposed.<\/p>\n

And let me close by saying this.\u00a0Over the last 2 decades Britain has been through crisis after crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The financial crash, Covid, Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine and now the impact of conflict in the Middle East.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The question facing us isn\u2019t simply how to avoid a repeat of this shock, that\u2019s important, but how to build a better country as we do so.<\/p>\n

I believe the agenda I have outlined offers an exciting,\u00a0optimistic\u00a0and hopeful future for the country, and that really, really matters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Energy and economic security that can withstand this new age of geopolitical instability.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Warmer homes, lower bills, cleaner air, better technologies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A stable environment for business.\u00a0\u00a0Good jobs across our country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And doing the right thing for our children and grandchildren.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

We owe it to the British people to deliver.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We can, we must, we will do it together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thank you\u00a0so much everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Thank you Praful Nargund for that introduction\u00a0and can I congratulate you and all your partners on the National…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":294292,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[1397,90,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-543073","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-environment","9":"tag-science","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/543073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=543073"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/543073\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=543073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=543073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=543073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}