Oliver Dowden hails Tech Zero Taskforce at CogX
Summary
Oliver Dowden, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, has announced government backing for a Tech Zero Taskforce at the CogX conference being held in London this week. “I hope this marks a turning point in our fight against climate change – and it’s right that the tech industry leads the charge.” The creation of the taskforce was originally announced by tech industry association TechNation in March 2021, chaired by Hayden Wood, co-founder and CEO of UK energy company Bulb, alongside the government’s Council for Sustainable Business and MP Andrew Griffith. “As a government, we are unashamedly pro-tech, and the industry has our full support as it brings its innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time.” Tech Zero is led by Wood and technology industry body Tech Nation, and includes British technology firms Allplants, Babylon, Citymapper, Faculty, GoCardless, Habito, Hopin, Moneysupermarket Group, Olio, Onfido, Revolut, Starling Bank, What3words and Wise. The taskforce is building a directory of products and technology that consumers can use to make greener choices, from avoiding food waste to reducing their carbon footprint. “As some of the fastest-growing companies in the UK, we want to help at least 1,000 companies set rigorous climate action plans, and help our 100 million customers make greener choices.” Gerard Grech, chief executive of Tech Nation, added: “Decarbonising our economies to net zero will undoubtedly involve mindset change, habit change and technologies, some not yet invented, to scale.”