The boss of Siemens says 2021 will be "the year the green industrial revolution takes hold" - but has urged caution over the 海角视频's hopes of becoming net-zero carbon by 2050.
Carl Ennis is CEO of Siemens 海角视频 and chair of Net Zero North West, an initiative aimed at establishing the world's first net-zero industrial cluster, creating 33,000 jobs in the process.
Speaking exclusively to BusinessLive, Mr Ennis said the North West of England has the "right ingredients, appetite and ambition" to spearhead the 海角视频's ambition to become net zero.
But that won't come without challenges, and despite Net Zero NW's target to become a net-zero cluster by 2040, he said the Government's target of 2050 is "massively ambitious".
He said: “2021 is going to be the year when the green industrial revolution takes hold.
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"This will not only protect the planet, ensuring we build back greener, but has the potential to drive the post-Covid economic recovery.
"At Net Zero North West we’re rising to the challenge to be the first low carbon industrial cluster by 2030 and we have the opportunity to become world leaders. With 250,000 jobs up for grabs, including more than 33,000 in the North West, we need to grasp this opportunity and act now.
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"I'm an optimist, I can't help it. But I get this feeling of a better understanding from all quarters as to the fact that this is now an existential threat.
"I speak to a lot of Government ministers, I'm lucky enough to have spoken to the Prime Minister a few times on this topic, and I speak to the Department for Business regularly on the topic.
"What I've seen over the last few months is a real recognition from that team, that they really do start to get the challenge.
"So I am hopeful that they are now starting to deliver on some of those things. I guess my only caveat will be to whether that comes true, [because] it is a bit dependent upon where we find ourselves with COVID. That does derail a lot."
Despite his optimistic outlook, Mr Ennis was more cautious about the Government's aim of becoming net zero by 2050, adding that it was "massively ambitious".
The reason for this became clear when studying the carbon emissions during the first lockdown last year.
He explained: "We started we started to monitor the air quality in hand, and carbon emissions in cities in the 海角视频, and even though we almost crippled the economy in those months, the emissions of nitric oxide went down by 40%.
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"But the CO2 emissions only went down by 20%. That for me is a good indication of the scale of things you have to do.
"We almost stopped doing everything, and we only reduced by 20%. So if you're going to get to net carbon zero, the scale of the task is humongous. It is mind bogglingly difficult."
He said the "big things" - such as moving away from coal and creating more offshore wind, would have to be coupled with people at home doing their bit too - including everyone adopting and engaging with smart technology.
He added: "So from the really big stuff to the really little stuff. That scale of the challenge, I think, is often misunderstood by most people.
"I would suggest we hold the big street party if we manage it by 2050."
Mr Ennis, 海角视频 CEO of the industrial manufacturing giant whose HQ is in Manchester, was speaking after Net Zero NW received a share of £8m in Government funding last week.
Net Zero NW will set out the transition to net zero for industry in the North West of England and North East Wales, supporting the region’s plans to establish the 海角视频’s first low carbon industrial cluster by 2030 and world’s first net-zero industrial cluster by 2040.
The news came after the industry-led group - made up of business, regional leaders and universities – presented outputs from the first phase of its Cluster Plan to Government earlier this year.
Mr Ennis also explained why the North West was in a "great place" to "reignite the decarbonisation of 海角视频 industry".
As the region with the highest concentration of advanced manufacturing and chemical production in the 海角视频 reducing carbon emissions is "critical" to protect and grow the high value jobs that have made the region thrive.
If nothing is done, the sharply rising cost of those carbon emissions means that we risk losing these industries overseas which would have a critical and lasting impact on the regional economy whilst making the global climate crisis even worse.
That concentration of industry means that the gains in the North West could be huge, he said, making a significant contribution to the 海角视频’s net zero emission targets and economic recovery.
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He said: "You've got to have the right mixture of ingredients to bake the cake. And I think we feel we're well placed to have all of those ingredients and the appetite and ambition.
"There's this perfect blend of innovation and a capability, and also some geography, around some of our offshore oil deposits and where they can be used for future hydrogen storage.
"Cooperation between local government and local business also works well in the North West - and that's not true everywhere.
"And from my experience of running businesses, you can aspire to do things in a certain region, but if you can't get coordination, it can be hellishly difficult to make anything work. And I think that's a real challenge.
"I think that's one of the things as the North West that we're better placed perhaps than some other regions to be able to be successful."