Weardale Lithium

A recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned urgent action is needed if the world is to “secure a liveable, sustainable future for all”. The study warned governments globally must take greater ownership of the situation, with industry also called upon to reduce emissions while increasing awareness of overconsumption. How do you assess the present landscape? Where is positive action being taken, and where do improvements still need to be made?

Stewart Dickson, CEO of Weardale Lithium, said: “Tackling climate change must be a truly and equitable process with collaboration across every level of government and industry. There is definitely an ambition to deliver net-zero, which is more than just rhetoric, but action isn’t at the pace that’s needed.

“The private sector is a hotbed for innovation and has the keys to unlocking a low climate future. The UK government has recognised this in its Powering Up Britain plan to secure our energy security with programmes such as the Great British Nuclear Company and the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme that will require creative, technology-led firms to step up and deliver effective solutions.

“The government also needs to go further in the field of critical minerals, with its strategy needing the scale of ambition and investment of the US Inflation Act or the EU Critical Raw Minerals Act.

“We are seeking to recover lithium for EV batteries from naturally occurring brines beneath County Durham, which will contribute to the decarbonisation of transport, which is a major area of carbon reduction that needs to be addressed. With almost a third of the UK’s emissions emitting from transport, this is an essential challenge to overcome, which requires considerable public and private investment in a supply chain that can generate and sustain green transport.

“The North East is well positioned as a hub for electrification, with the potential to create an integrated ‘borehole to battery’ supply chain, which can make a significant contribution to our environmental ambitions.”