As Party Conference season approaches, London First has been busy putting together a programme of events looking at how the capital can build back stronger and greener after the unprecedented shock of COVID-19.
This year, our programme seeks to bring together decision-makers and experts to discuss how a thriving capital can provide an economic boost to the whole country. Alongside this, we will consider how we can make sure London’s recovery from the pandemic is a green one, with resilience and sustainability at its heart.
The way to level up the country is not to dismiss some regions with the aim of benefitting others, as the Prime Minister himself has said. In the post-pandemic world, our work at London First aims to secure the future of our capital as the world’s greatest business hub: an economic powerhouse supporting recovery across the UK.
The business community, across all regions of the UK, is united by the common cause of a strong and dynamic economy. A prosperous London has the potential to reap significant benefits for the whole of the UK with the generation of a significant tax surplus that can be spent on services across other regions of the country. The message is clear – growth in the capital, the central areas of which have been hit hardest by the pandemic, can deliver opportunities, better services and infrastructure improvements across the whole country.
As London rebuilds in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, there is an opportunity to build a more resilient, net-zero future. The UK was the first major economy to set a net zero emissions target, and it is vital that we now put in the work needed to meet this ambitious goal and fulfil our international commitment to act on climate change
The business community is already playing a significant role in responding to the challenge by developing new technologies and services to help cut emissions and changing the way they work, from transitioning to green vehicle fleets to designing new zero carbon buildings. However, time is short, and the reality of meeting our emissions targets means the next decade will be crucial if we are to get to where we need to be.
London First is responding by convening business, experts, and the public sector to look at what’s needed to accelerate the delivery of the net zero agenda within a London context. Beyond our COP26 events at Party Conferences, look out for more events, blogs and working group sessions to help business better understand the priorities, barriers, and opportunities for a green recovery as we look ahead to 2022.