Gavin Graveson, senior executive vice president for Northern Europe at Veolia, says there is a green economy equation that the new government cannot afford to get wrong

Whoever wins the next election will form a government that will face enormous challenges. Two key issues, often pitted against each other, are economic growth and environmental protection. But without resolving this equation, the new government cannot put Britain on the path to prosperity.

The climate crisis and the cost of living crisis should be addressed together. Green policy is not a zero-sum game. There are growth opportunities in the key sectors of water, waste and energy – if the right policy frameworks are put in place. We cannot afford to delay, and the new government must prioritise action that enables investment in infrastructure to decarbonise, remove pollution and regenerate resources at scale.

First, the energy transition is not just about achieving net zero emissions. It is also about building a resilient, domestic supply so that we can produce low-carbon, local heat and electricity cost-effectively for homes and businesses. Cumbersome planning systems and stifling bureaucracy need to be simplified so that green infrastructure projects can take months to complete, rather than the years that are currently the norm for both planning and grid connections. This will start to drive sustainable growth.

Secondly, the resources sector is still waiting for clarity on the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy announced in 2018. That’s six years of uncertainty, which is hampering progress on national recycling rates and undermining the confidence of companies like Veolia to invest.

Government needs to keep it simple and workable. An effective and efficient Extended Producer Responsibility scheme will give producers value for money and more recyclable materials back into the value chain. A fair emissions trading scheme will encourage decarbonisation without encouraging regressive steps such as going back to landfill. A rising tax on plastic packaging will send a message to producers that using virgin materials that are damaging the planet is expensive and will ensure that recyclable packaging made from recycled materials becomes a mainstay on our shelves.

Finally, unacceptable levels of pollution and poor water resilience are not only damaging the environment, but also our quality of life and damaging our health. More than half of Britons recently surveyed by Veolia and Elabe said they felt exposed and vulnerable to health risks due to pollution and climate change. A sustainable, clean water supply is a resource we cannot afford to take for granted.

Investment and innovation must start now. Veolia has decontamination solutions on the market today, but without a transparent framework for tendering work, the water industry will continue to be unclear.

We need resilient water supplies to protect our drinking water supplies in the face of climate change, and the ecological health of our rivers, lakes and seas must be a priority. It will be difficult to regain public trust, but the new government must make water quality monitoring and reporting more transparent and open up the market to more competitive solutions. The people of the UK deserve a long-term water resilience strategy that addresses both quality and quantity.

Energy, waste and water are key sectors with positive potential for growth, investment and the environment. However, the mantra of ‘efficient and effective’ must be applied to government policy to unlock investment, create jobs and enable a profitable, sustainable economy. Whatever the colour of the new government, green must be high on the agenda.