On 16 October, Rachel updated the Net Zero Council’s Sector Transition Plan Working Group, chaired by Chris Skidmore, on next steps for the Council’s work on cross-cutting barriers to decarbonisation, a workstream the Aldersgate Group is now leading.

Electricity costs and electrification

Ahead of the Budget, we continued to call for lower electricity costs, an electrification strategy and the protection of existing electrification funding. As part of this, we fed members’ views into the E3G-convened UK Electricity Bills Taskforce report, Lowering Great Britain’s electricity bills – recommendations for government.

We also signed an industry letter, led by Electrify Britain, urging the government to protect Warm Homes Plan funding in the Budget, after reports that some of it could be reallocated to defence – a move that would undermine progress on electrifying heat in homes.

As the Energy Independence Bill progresses through Parliament, we have been briefing parliamentarians across parties on affordability, electrification, community benefits from renewables, and climate and nature safeguards. In particular, we are calling for a national electrification plan that aligns government policy and funding to make electrification cheaper and easier for businesses and households to adopt – an ask we will continue to make to all parties.

Transport

On 22 October, we launched our new report with the Renewable Energy Association (REA), Ready to Move: a framework for decarbonising UK HGVs, at Fleete’s EV charging hub at the Port of Tilbury. Richard Bruce CBE (International Council on Clean Transportation) and Mark Constable (REA) set the scene, followed by a whole-value-chain panel with Yuan Cao Zhang (KPMG), Chris Morrison (Fleete), Jo Bradley (Nestlé) and Lamech Solomon (Logistics UK).

The report’s central finding is that HGV decarbonisation is an energy problem, not a transport problem. Electric trucks are already in operation, but grid connections, electricity costs and financing risk are holding back wider adoption. The report calls for a clear long-term policy framework, finance that reduces risk, and infrastructure planned ahead of demand. We will be building on this work in the coming months.

Earlier in the month, Beth spoke on the opening panel at Shifting Gears, hosted by Creative Zero, Netflix and the BFI to accelerate the use of zero-emission vans and trucks in film and TV productions from 2027. Drawing on our HGV research, she set out the need for clear long-term policy signals, measures to close the cost gap with diesel and a strategy for charging infrastructure. This links to our wider project on decarbonising the creative industries.

Industrial decarbonisation

Beth gave the opening presentation at a workshop on public understanding of CCUS at the Carbon Capture and Storage Association’s annual conference, CCUS 2026: From Ambition to Delivery. Industry, policymakers and communications experts discussed how to make the case for CCUS more effectively, from its role in reindustrialisation, jobs and skills to costs for consumers, pipeline safety and messaging across the political spectrum. The CCSA will publish a short report on the workshop’s conclusions.

Water

On 14 October, we presented The Business Case for a National Water Framework to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Strategic Infrastructure Board. GMCA Deputy Mayor Paul Dennett welcomed the report’s framing, highlighting how closely it aligns with the GMCA’s ambition for a more systematic approach to water resources and its case for greater devolved powers over water infrastructure planning.

On 28 October, we were delighted to bring together members, policymakers and partners for our flagship water event, Business, infrastructure and the future of water: navigating reform, kindly hosted by Pinsent Masons. It was a brilliant discussion, testing the report’s recommendations against the policy landscape as it stands, and it was great to see such energy and engagement in the room. Our warm thanks go to Pinsent Masons for hosting us so generously; to Dame Helen Ghosh (Chair, Office for Environmental Protection) for an insightful keynote; to Nick Molho (Aviva) for expertly chairing the panel; and to our panellists Julia Buckley MP, Iain Smedley (Barclays), Gordon McCreath (Pinsent Masons) and David Hill (Defra) for such a candid and constructive conversation. Thank you too to everyone who joined us.

Climate adaptation

We submitted written evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into UK climate adaptation, arguing that adaptation is a prerequisite for growth and that the UK faces a preparedness gap. We called for clearer local and national plans to manage climate risk, so that businesses and investors can act with confidence.

Our new project on how national policy can unlock investment in place-based adaptation is now under way, looking at how climate risks could affect three growth areas across England. Our final report is due in the first quarter of 2027.

Circular economy

We met Defra’s circular economy team to continue to push for progress on the Circular Economy Growth Strategy.

Enabling private sector action on nature

On 13 October, we met the Office for National Statistics to discuss the Natural Capital Accounts: their scope and direction of travel, how they relate to HM Treasury’s accounting frameworks and the Green Book, and the differing ways nature is valued across Whitehall.

Net Zero and Nature Positive case studies

This month we published the first of our Net Zero and Nature Positive case studies, on Nestlé UK & Ireland’s Regenerative Milk Plan, delivered in partnership with First Milk. It examines the benefits of supply chain engagement and payments for environmental outcomes on dairy farms in Cumbria and Ayrshire. More case studies are in development.