Three industry groups have called on the UK government to prioritise industrial decarbonisation as essential for national security and economic resilience, warning current policy delays threaten Britain’s industrial future.
Three industry groups have urged the government to treat industrial decarbonisation as a matter of national security, arguing that Britain cannot meet its net zero goals if its manufacturing base continues to erode.
In a joint letter to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, Hydrogen UK and Electrify Industry warned that the UK is “at risk of further decline in its critical industrial base” unless ministers provide clearer policy direction, faster decisions and stronger investment signals. They said high electricity costs, international competition and policy uncertainty were already weighing on closures and deterring capital spending.
Their warning lands against a backdrop that official and industry analysis has repeatedly identified industrial decarbonisation as central to the UK’s wider climate and competitiveness agenda. The government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy sets out a long-term ambition for a low-carbon industrial sector by 2050, with deep emissions cuts expected well before then. UK Research and Innovation has said the country’s industrial clusters support about 1.5 million jobs and account for roughly a third of business and industrial emissions, underlining the scale of the transition.
The letter argues that the updated Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy should do more than restate ambition. It should, the authors say, provide a signal that government intends to rebuild domestic capacity and capability. They call for accelerated deployment of carbon capture, hydrogen and electrification, alongside streamlined planning and regulatory decisions, clearer long-term policy guidance and more dependable funding structures for complex decarbonisation projects.
The groups also pressed for faster delivery of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, which is intended to reduce electricity bills for eligible firms, and for a more robust carbon border adjustment mechanism to help level the playing field for domestic producers facing imports from jurisdictions with weaker carbon costs.
In the letter, the signatories say safeguarding Britain’s core industrial assets is essential to the long-term prosperity of the economy and the security of supply. They cite recent restructuring in oil refining, chemicals and steel as evidence of the strain facing energy-intensive sectors.
Daniel Paterson, director of policy and government affairs at Electrify Industry, said artificially high electricity costs were acting as a drag on industrial investment and stopping firms from modernising as quickly as they otherwise could. Olivia Powis, chief executive of the CCSA, said carbon capture was critical for sectors such as cement and refining that cannot easily decarbonise through electrification alone. Clare Jackson, chief executive of Hydrogen UK, said delays in decision-making were holding back investment in a technology she described as central to the UK’s clean industrial future.
A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the government was backing first-of-a-kind carbon capture projects with £9.4 billion this parliament and had also committed £500 million to the hydrogen industry, saying ministers recognised the role both technologies can play in energy security, jobs and industrial renewal.
- https://www.gbnews.com/politics/ed-miliband-decarbonisation-foundational-industries – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-decarbonisation-strategy – The UK government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy outlines a vision for a competitive, low-carbon industrial sector by 2050. It aims to reduce emissions by at least two-thirds by 2035 and by at least 90% by 2050, with significant contributions from Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) and low-carbon fuels. The strategy provides long-term certainty to encourage investment in decarbonisation technologies and infrastructure, ensuring that the UK remains competitive while achieving its net-zero targets.
- https://www.ukri.org/what-we-offer/browse-our-areas-of-investment-and-support/industrial-decarbonisation/ – UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supports the decarbonisation of industrial clusters in the UK, which are vital to the economy, securing 1.5 million jobs and exporting goods and services worth £320 billion annually. These clusters emit around 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, equating to one-third of all business and industrial emissions. UKRI’s Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge funds projects to accelerate decarbonisation in these clusters, aiming to reduce emissions and enhance competitiveness.
- https://chapterzero.org.uk/policy-regulations-standards/uk-climate-policy/uk-climate-policy-deep-dive-industrial-decarbonisation/ – Chapter Zero provides an in-depth analysis of the UK’s climate policies related to industrial decarbonisation. It highlights the government’s active development of strategies and policies impacting business and investor decisions, including the refreshed Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, Industrial Strategy, and the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. The analysis underscores the importance of these policies in driving industrial decarbonisation and their implications for the UK’s economic and environmental objectives.
- https://www.aldersgategroup.org.uk/publications/post/uk-industry-will-face-network-constraints-without-investment-in-critical-electricity-infrastructure/ – Research by the Aldersgate Group and the UK Energy Research Centre warns that without further investment, the UK’s electricity network will become significantly constrained from 2030 as the economy electrifies. The report finds that 42% of large industrial sites could experience power constraints in 2030, increasing to 77% in 2050. It highlights the need for critical electricity infrastructure investment to support industrial decarbonisation and maintain competitiveness.
- https://www.iea.org/policies/13224-industrial-decarbonisation-strategy – The International Energy Agency (IEA) outlines the UK’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, which sets a vision for a competitive, greener future for the manufacturing and construction sectors. The strategy aims to create and support 80,000 jobs over the next 30 years, cut emissions by two-thirds in 15 years, and increase the use of low-carbon energy sources to around 40% of total energy consumption in the industrial sector.
- https://idric.org/resources/briefing-note-grid-constraints-and-industrial-decarbonisation/ – The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) highlights that inadequate electricity grid infrastructure poses a significant constraint on the UK’s net-zero efforts. Delays in grid connections for industrial users can extend to several years, increasing costs and hindering decarbonisation plans. The briefing underscores the need for timely grid upgrades to support the deployment of technologies critical for reducing fossil fuel use in industrial sectors.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article was published on 7 May 2026. A search revealed that similar narratives have appeared in the past, notably in a GB News article from 13 March 2026, discussing UK manufacturers urging Ed Miliband to approve drilling in the North Sea to prevent de-industrialisation. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/politics/ed-miliband-north-sea-manufacturers?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that the current article may be building upon previously reported concerns, potentially reducing its freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Daniel Paterson, Olivia Powis, and Clare Jackson. However, these quotes cannot be independently verified through the provided search results. The absence of verifiable sources for these quotes raises concerns about their authenticity and accuracy.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The article originates from GB News, a news outlet known for its conservative stance. While it is a recognised publication, its editorial approach may influence the framing of the narrative. The lack of independent verification for the quotes further diminishes the reliability of the source.
Plausibility check
Score:
6
Notes:
The concerns raised about the potential decline of the UK’s industrial base due to high electricity costs, international competition, and policy uncertainty are plausible and align with ongoing discussions in the industry. However, the lack of independent verification for the quotes and the reliance on a single source for these claims reduce the overall credibility of the narrative.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents concerns about the UK’s industrial base potentially declining due to high electricity costs, international competition, and policy uncertainty. However, the reliance on unverified quotes from individuals associated with the organisations mentioned, coupled with the lack of independent verification and the conservative editorial stance of GB News, raises significant concerns about the credibility and accuracy of the information presented. Given these issues, the content does not meet the necessary standards for publication under our editorial indemnity.
