The seminar, entitled ‘Achieving Alignment: The Realities of Delivering Net Zero’ featured a host of distinguished speakers, including Geum Howatson from Locogen, Kate Dooley from RES, the NESO’s Neil Copeland, Irwin Mitchell’s Claire Petricca-Riding and WJM managing partner Fraser Gillies.

Chaired by WJM Partner Esme Macfarlane, she opened proceedings at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with a reminder of the challenge facing everyone when it comes to meeting net zero targets, insisting while it is “complicated and challenging,” the aims remain “achievable”.

She also pointed to the optimism in the industry due to the recent change in the UK government and policy at Westminster – something which became a cornerstone theme of the afternoon.

Mr Gillies started the speakers’ slots with his annual planning update, stating that WJM remain busy on a multitude of renewables projects, while also touching on the topics being brought to the table by the rest of the panel – biodiversity enhancement and net gain, aviation lighting, politics and policy and grid.

Reflecting on the event, he said: “Once again, and on our tenth year of delivering it, our Renewables Seminar was a huge hit.

“With informative talks from our guest speakers and a lively question and answer session to finish, we are confident that all who attended left with a better grasp of the current state of the sector.”

Ms Petricca-Riding, head of Irwin Mitchell’s planning and environment team, based in Manchester, got discussions going in earnest as she discussed the latest developments in biodiversity enhancement and net gain. Her appearance marks the first Renewables Seminar since WJM joined the IM family.

She insisted it’s “never been more important to understand our impact on biodiversity, halt climate change and achieve net zero targets” as she laid bare the struggles we’re experiencing, with a biodiversity loss of 69 per cent in the last 50 years.

Ms Howatson, of Locogen, continued the conversation, as she touched on the subject of aviation lighting and the role she plays steering the Aviation Lighting Working Group.

Mr Gillies said: “There are huge challenges ahead, make no mistake, but continuing to talk and collaborate in this manner can only aid our path to achieving Net Zero and ensuring a greener, cleaner and safer future for all.”