Climate change impact could surpass economic fallout from coronavirus - SSE

The economic impact from a failure to deal with climate change could be even greater than the financial fallout from coronavirus, according to the boss of Scottish energy giant SSE.

SSE has drafted a five-point action plan focused on stimulating growth and investment to aid a cleaner, more resilient UK economy for the future.

Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive of the Perth-headquartered group, issued the warning as he called on the UK government to green light billions of pounds of private investment in low carbon infrastructure to help the economy rebound from Covid-19.

He argued that committing to a net zero power sector by 2040 would help stimulate a more resilient recovery and get the UK on track to meet its climate action commitments.

SSE has written to the Prime Minister and government officials outlining its five point “greenprint” to rebuild the economy in the wake of the pandemic.

Phillips-Davies said: “While it is still too early to predict with confidence the full human, social and economic impact of coronavirus, we can say with certainty that significant investment will be needed to rebuild the UK economy in its wake.

“Although not as immediately felt as those from coronavirus, the impacts from a failure to deal with climate change could be even greater – that’s why delivering on the UK’s net zero emissions target by 2050, and 2045 in Scotland, is as important as ever.

“This moment in time is pivotal. It’s even more important to double down on climate action. Coronavirus has demonstrated only concerted, focused effort can solve a crisis – and that goes for the climate emergency too.”

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