Panel to discuss businesses role and financial incentives in net zero

An expert panel will discuss how financial incentives are influencing the UK 's progression to net zero during a summit hosted by the Chambers of Commerce this week.

Greater Birmingham and Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce are hosting the Sustainable Business Summit at Conference Aston on Wednesday (8.45 to 12.30pm).

It comes as world leaders gather for COP26 in Glasgow.

The government 's Net Zero Strategy shows a six-fold increase from current investment in net zero.

Most of this investment is expected to come from the private sector.

At the Chamber summit, expert panellists include Hisham Farag (director, Sustainable Finance Innovation Research Centre, University of Birmingham), Laura Suffolk (regional director for the West Midlands, NatWest), Chris Reeves (head of Connected and Automotive Vehicles, Horriba Mira) and Sarah Windrum (board director CW LEP and owner of Emerald Group) are to share their views on the financial case for net zero.

They will discuss how this investment and associated financial incentives can be unlocked for businesses through policy for net zero.

A separate panel will also seek to understand the role of business in net zero.

This will include current best practice examples across different.

The summit will here from Emma Head (technical services delivery director, HS2) Richard Kirkham (operations director, Morgan Sindall), Tim Miller (director of engagement, Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University) and Juliet Mian (director of Infrastructure Resilience, Arup).

Also speaking at the event will be West Midlands mayor Andy Street (pictured), who said: “As we get closer to attending COP26 in Glasgow and to hosting a regional roadshow here in the West Midlands, it is vital we are aligned as a region in our identity as home of the green Industrial Revolution. ”

The summit aims to inspire collaborative action through sharing insight and engaging in thought-provoking conversations.

It follows a month of webinars, podcasts, blogs and other digital content sharing best practice, guidance and knowledge to support business progress to net zero, under the Greater Birmingham Chambers and Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers Sustainable Business Series Campaign.

The campaign is sponsored by Aston University, Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure, University of Birmingham and Arup.

Registrations for the summit close tomorrow morning. You can register your place for the Summit here.

You can find out more about the Sustainable Business Series: Net Zero, here.