05 June 2020

On Thursday 4 June, Burges Salmon hosted a virtual roundtable, ‘A natural capital approach to attaining Net Zero’, bringing leaders together to discuss the Natural Capital Committee’s latest report.

The firm kicked off its series of Net Zero-focused roundtable events in February to address the challenges and opportunities of achieving the government’s Net Zero 2050 target.

The publishing of the Natural Capital Committee report in April provided an opportunity for the network of sector leaders to virtually reconvene for a follow-up event focused on land use and agriculture and to discuss viewing the nature-based interventions for attaining the government’s net zero target in the broader context of the 25 Year Environment Plan goals, as set out by the paper.

During the event, attendees explored how COVID-19 might potentially have altered the position and whether it would make it easier to achieve change, how to get clear metrics that people have confidence in with regards to natural capital/environment/biodiversity net gain and having confidence in carbon pricing being set at the right level.

Burges Salmon partner Ross Fairley, chair of Net Zero Services, facilitated the roundtable which attracted representation from 13 key organisations such as Beeswax Dyson Farming, The Leckford Estate, Yeo Valley, Church Commissioners for England, The Committee on Climate Change, Duchy of Cornwall and Cibus.

On the event, Ross says: “We realised very quickly that the sectors that Burges Salmon focuses on will be key in shaping the move to Net Zero. That puts Burges Salmon in a strong position to understand what requirements there will be for changing regulation and policy, to help our clients plan for that and to ensure that there is the necessary joined-up thinking across sectors. We have embarked on a series of workshops and roundtables bringing sector leaders together.”

With thanks to all who attended: Beeswax Dyson Farming; Affinity Water; Kite Consulting; Leckford Estate; Yeo Valley; Cibus; Harper Adams; Church Commissioners for England; The Committee on Climate Change; Grow 22; Duchy of Cornwall; Bidwells/Wellcome Trust.

Key contact

Ross Fairley

Ross Fairley Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Renewable Energy
  • Environment

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