Dominic Rowles, Lead ESG Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, comments on efforts in the Autumn Statement to enhance the Government’s patchy record on sustainability, plus the proposed investments in energy generation and strategic manufacturing.

While tax cuts took centre stage in Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement, some efforts were made to enhance the Government’s patchy record on sustainability. They are a welcome response to a series of recent policy shifts that seemed to pose serious challenges to the Government's 2050 net zero target...

The Chancellor also restated his commitment to invest £4.5bn between 2025 and 2030 in strategic manufacturing, which includes £2bn for zero emission investments in the automotive sector, supporting the manufacturing, supply chain and development of zero emission vehicles. This could go some way to placating those automakers that needed to alter their investment plans when the government delayed plans to prohibit the sale of new combustion engine-powered cars in September.

Full release: Autumn Statement: What's in it for the environment?

✉️ Victoria Bartlett, Hargreaves Lansdown, 07989 133 675 / victoria.bartlett@hl.co.uk