FEATURE
Meeting Net Zero Targets By Andrew Norton, Project Manager | Net Zero Skills Academy, Queen’s University Belfast.
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orthern Ireland has a heritage of innovation. From linen making to the fintech and cybersecurity revolution, this country has been at the forefront of new and emerging advances. We stand now on the cusp of the Net Zero revolution where we will continue to innovate whilst better understanding how the world and its resources can be preserved. A key question in this journey is, what would happen if we could turn waste into precious commodities? Or more specifically, make heat and power, essential to our modern way of life, more sustainable and independent of swings in the global energy market? We now are facing a climate emergency and without urgent action, we face an
uncertain future. It is not a question of waiting but of acting now to try and transition our economy towards a Net Zero future. We need to drastically reduce emissions whilst also investing in technologies that will help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. So, how can we transition business practice through the use of new green technology in a just and economically sustainable way, as we look towards implementing a Net Zero carbon emission target by 2050? Queen’s University Belfast has been funded by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through a Community Renewal Fund grant to research these issues. Headed by the
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School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, a team of academics is working towards bringing communities together towards this goal. We believe the solution lies in the strength of businesses and communities working together. The university is looking at how to harness the power of cooperatives, where stakeholders come together to innovate, share and grow. Like all simple slogans, Net Zero is easy to say and more complicated to achieve. The reality of meeting Net Zero targets relies on convincing the world, and especially businesses, to adopt new practices and ways of thinking. This is where cooperatives can provide strategic value. Cooperatives have been successful in bringing together businesses and
