Tackling climate change, kickstarting green economic growth and promoting healthy, sustainable living for all across the UK lie at the heart of new investment.
Delivering net zero
This includes delivering net carbon zero impact in UK land sectors, such as farming, forestry and peat uplands, working towards large-scale transformation of the way land is used and managed.
And a significant investment in the UK’s global network of environmental science research centres is also backed.
This will support large-scale monitoring, modelling, and research capabilities in atmosphere, polar ice sheets, freshwaters, seas and land.
Investment for the future
This will ensure our national security to environmental hazards, boost green economic growth and build understanding of climate change for many years to come.
The funding supports new jobs, green growth and state-of-the-art innovation in towns and cities across the UK, from Glasgow to Cornwall, as well as underpinning UK-led expertise across the world.
As with all UKRI investments, the many projects supported by this new funding will play a vital role in kickstarting economic growth and driving the UK’s future as a clean energy superpower.
World-class research and innovation
They demonstrate how UKRI enables world-class research and innovation, driving science-led economic growth that supports long-term prosperity and national resilience.
The projects also reinforce the UK’s leadership in green industries by opening up opportunities for clean economic growth.
All projects and programmes supported by the new commitments, totalling just under £170 million, will start delivering from this year.
Funded projects
The projects include:
Support to environmental science global monitoring capacity
Over £100 million to bolster the long-term support offered to UK environmental sciences’ global monitoring capability in atmospheric, marine, polar, freshwater and terrestrial environments.
This major investment will build on the UK’s extensive environmental science capabilities.
It will help us better understand how our planet is changing at local and global scales and enhance resource and environmental management.
This is a key step in realising the government’s core mission to fund science that can address climate change and pave the way to a sustainable future.
Scale-up and adoption of clean, green commercial solutions
£25 million for five new centres in Scotland, Wales and South West England, co-created between industry, academia and local stakeholders.
The centres will deliver the scale-up and adoption of clean, green commercial solutions at the local, regional and national level.
This ranges from retrofit housing and electronics manufacturing to algae production and a more sustainable approach to critical minerals’ mining.
Transforming land use
£14.5 million investment in five UK research and innovation projects that will transform land use, re-think soil system health and carbon dynamics and reduce agricultural emissions.
Improved health and wellbeing for a net zero carbon economy
£30 million to establish new research hubs to ensure we maximise opportunity for improved health and wellbeing as part of the transition to a net zero carbon economy.
This project is co-funded by UKRI and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Experts at the hubs will explore:
- indoor air quality
- transport and the built environment
- sustainable healthy diets
- extreme weather
- how we support an NHS fit for the future by reducing carbon emissions in our health and social care sector
Improving our understanding
Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
World-class research will be vital if we are to develop the green technologies we need to reach our net zero goals and build the UK into a green energy superpower, generating new jobs and further investments in the process.
We are backing researchers spanning from Cornwall to Glasgow as they help us tackle climate change through new environmental monitoring solutions, while supporting businesses developing green solutions to scale-up at speed.
Ongoing commitment
Louise Heathwaite, Natural Environment Research Council Executive Chair and UKRI Executive sponsor for Building a Green Future, said:
This exciting series of investments underlines UKRI’s ongoing commitment to building a green future for families, communities, businesses and across our whole society.
Working with others, it builds on our broader £800 million-a-year research and innovation portfolio where we deliver on national priorities, transform behaviours and unlock solutions essential to achieving net zero in the UK by 2050.
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