Should we still care about net zero? | LSE iQ Podcast

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to commit in law to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But seven years later, the world looks very different.

Since then, we've experienced a global pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, energy price shocks, US attacks on Iran, more energy price shocks, and growing political opposition to climate policies. As governments face competing priorities around economic growth, energy security and the cost of living, some are questioning whether net zero is still achievable, affordable or even necessary.

In this episode of LSE iQ, Anna Bevan asks: Should we still care about net zero? She speaks to Professor Anna Valero, from LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance and the Global School of Sustainability, about her surprising findings on the UK’s transition to net zero.

Bloomberg journalist Akshat Rathi explores how investment, technology and public policy can accelerate the move towards a low-carbon economy.

Professor Riccardo Crescenzi and Oliver Harman, from LSE’s Department of Geography and Environment, discuss what an exploding toaster reveals about the manufacturing slogan “Made in Britain”, and what green global value chains mean for net zero.

Contributors:
Innovation through crises: survey evidence on digital, AI and net zero innovation in the UK by Anna Valero
https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/GetUrlReputation

Anna Valero

Akshat Rathi

Riccardo Crescenzi

Oliver Harman

Research:

Innovation through crises: survey evidence on digital, AI and net zero innovation in the UK by Anna Valero
https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/GetUrlReputation

Innovation, growth and the transition to net zero emissions by Nicholas Stern and Anna Valero
https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/innovation-growth-and-the-transition-to-net-zero-emissions/

Climate Capitalism by Ashat Rathi
https://akshatrathi.com/book/

Harnessing global value chains for regional development by Riccardo Crescenzi and Oliver Harman
https://researchonline.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/118433/?__cf_chl_tk=teJU9se0nNdG9rAlnkOmgL9GXqBhWLYOujDfcOAxsP8-1788783313-1.0.1.1-oisUcvTefEUPkHONLVPprL9953x76AOphH8TfEX5Who

Made in Britain or designed in Britain? What Port Talbot teaches us about the green economy by Riccardo Crescenzi and Oliver Harman
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2026/06/13/made-in-britain-or-designed-in-britain-what-port-talbot-teaches-us-about-the-green-economy/