Events Blog: 16-29 January | IPT

Greening Our Cities: Investing in Sustainable Urban Spaces for a Healthier Tomorrow

On Monday 29 January 2024 the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) hosted a breakfast event for parliamentarians and industry representatives on ‘Greening Our Cities: Investing in Sustainable Urban Spaces for a Healthier Tomorrow’. This discussion was chaired by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, Vice-chair, Environment APPG with guest speakers Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs, Horticultural Trade Association and Professor Ross Cameron, Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield.

Key discussion points:

  • Need for more nature in urban areas is clear but how? Perhaps rethinking the green belt and have star shaped cities with green fingers drawing nature into the city.
  • Need a focus on soil health, nutrient density and biodiversity, not just green.
  • Focus on small scale, individuals growing foods and house plants are helpful and great for mental health i.e. trees in PCH.
  • Getting children out into green spaces should be entrenched into the education system, charities do good work, but it should be more fundamental – more than charity is needed.
  • A big problem is that too many houses are being built on not enough land and brownfield sites are expensive to develop. So need to build fewer houses on the same land, allowing for more space for green spaces and trees.
  • Local authorities are financially stretched and risk adverse therefore more likely to cut down a tree to make sure it doesn’t fall on someone than ensure its properly maintained.
  • Having green lungs along rivers and hedges circling schools can really help reduce air pollution and have a beneficial impact on mental health.

Securing Critical Minerals for a Sustainable and Resilient Future

On Tuesday 23 January 2024 the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) hosted a breakfast event for parliamentarians and industry representatives on ‘Securing Critical Minerals for a Sustainable and Resilient Future’. This discussion was chaired by Cherilyn Mackrory MP, Chair, Critical Minerals APPG with guest speakers Thomas Birk, Managing Director, UK & Ireland, BASF and Professor Kerry Kirwan, Head of Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing, WMG, University of Warwick.

Key discussion points:

  • The drive to achieve Net Zero puts pressure on securing critical minerals because they have to be mined from the ground which involves releasing carbon.
  • Products aren’t well designed, it’s difficult to recycle electronics and cables which means a lot of useful metals get thrown to landfill.
  • Mining is expensive and dangerous and requires consensus from local populations to work, for example a mine in Panama closing despite producing 1% worlds copper because of lack of local support.
  • Demand for critical minerals is going to rise so a need for cash flow and a critical mineral strategy is going to be very important.
  • How to implement a global critical mineral strategy, no one country can produce all necessary critical minerals so questions will be about how to share it out, some countries won’t play by the rules and how to mitigate for that.

Retrofit Revolution: Shaping a Greener Future, One Home at a Time

On Monday 16 January 2024 the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) hosted a breakfast event for parliamentarians and industry representatives on ‘Retrofit Revolution: Shaping a Greener Future, One Home at a Time’. This discussion was chaired by Derek Thomas MP, Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee with guest speakers Becci Taylor, Director, Arup and Professor Matthew Paterson, Director of The Sustainable Consumption Institute, University of Manchester.

Key discussion points:

  • Put in frameworks to expand retrofit policies to reach a wider range of UK housing, focusing on their impact on decarbonisation and energy efficiency. And help people to understand the importance of retrofit and the sort of upgrades they can do.
  • Increase people’s trust in energy efficiency measures and new technology, possibly reaching out to local builder’s merchants and business to inform customers about retrofit options.
  • Difficulties in retrofitting listed homes or those in a conservation area, how can this be worked around? • Need to train more skilled workers and advisors and look at the economic and environmental impacts of retrofitting houses: job creation in the construction sector, cost savings for households, and progress towards the UK's decarbonisation and energy independence goals.
  • New models and approaches can be used to achieve retrofit goals, including those aimed at addressing fuel poverty, energy efficiency, and low-carbon heating systems.