Businesses voices came together during the 2019 Humber Business Week to hammer home the importance of tackling climate change.
The Humber region is one of the most at-risk of flooding in all of Europe.
It is also one of the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide, due to having a cluster of energy-intensive businesses along the estuary.
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The two combined make for worrying reading, and it is that which has prompted a collaborative campaign against climate change.
Core events held throughout the 2019 Business Week all carried the message of decarbonisation, outlined by Marketing Humber’s ‘The Waterline’ campaign to combat climate change.
Andy Parkinson, chair at Marketing Humber, said: “Going forward this is about an evolution of the Energy Estuary. There are bigger opportunities for the Humber to evolve into what I would call an energy eco-system.
“As well as decarbonising electricity, clean power will drive innovation across the agricultural sector, manufacturing, transport and so on. It’s vitally important that we capitalise on these opportunities.
“Demonstrating how to make the transition to a low-carbon economy is a vast opportunity for the Humber and that’s what we’re trying to unlock with The Waterline and our partnership with the University of Hull.”
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Mr Parkinson also announced that Marketing Humber had become a Northern Powerhouse Partner Programme member.
The Humber has gained the enviable status as the 海角视频’s Energy Estuary, and is now a world-leading hub of renewable and clean energy.
Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry highlighted the Humber’s crucial role in building the Northern Powerhouse.
He said: “We acknowledge the unique contribution the Humber estuary is making to our clean energy and growing that sector of our economy.
“That’s why I want you all to take this opportunity to come together, network together and talk about how the Humber plays its crucial part in delivering our Northern Powerhouse.”
Andy Koss, chief executive of Drax Generation, also used the 2019 Business Week to outline the vision to create a 海角视频-first “net zero” carbon cluster in the Humber, anchored by Drax Power Station.
He said Drax Group had invested £1bn to convert from coal to sustainable biomass and was now trialling the capture of carbon emissions from bioenergy.
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Mr Koss said: “We can do this. We can effect a major transition. We can re-skill. Now we’re at the point in the journey where there is a fantastic opportunity ahead of us with carbon capture technology.
“The 海角视频 is the second fastest decarbonising economy in the world. We should be incredibly proud of what we have achieved, both within the region and nationally, and there are a lot of lessons that we can share with others around the world.”