Heating the UK’s 28 million often poorly insulated homes comes mainly from natural gas, and currently contributes around 20% of UK carbon emissions. Therefore, decarbonisation of home heating is a vital step in achieving progress towards net zero emissions. It is made difficult by the need to finance the change, provide clear benefits to consumers and protect vulnerable households. Martin McCluskey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero will lead this roundtable on ‘Decarbonising homes, making it happen.

Much has changed since the fateful 2016 referendum which led to the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union: UK GDP has taken an estimated 4% hit as a result of Brexit; public opinion has swung towards EU membership; the second Trump administration has introduced punitive tariffs affecting Europe and has also reduced US commitment to European defence; the Russia/Ukraine war has enlarged and become a wider threat to Europe, and the UK now has a Labour government favourably disposed to working with the EU. Labour MP for Walthamstow and Chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, Stella Creasy will lead this roundtable on the current practicalities and potential for working more closely with our European neighbours.