Political disagreement over net zero is increasingly undermining progress towards a greener future. While the UK’s 2019 commitment to reduce carbon emissions was initially supported across the political spectrum, that alignment has since fractured. As approaches diverge between political parties, long-term planning and investment are becoming more difficult at precisely the moment when clarity and collaboration are most needed.

Different political parties are now advocating markedly different pathways to net zero, ranging from accelerated timelines to questioning the viability of the target altogether. This fragmentation creates uncertainty for industry and investors and reflects a wider global challenge. Without a more unified approach, the pace of the energy transition risks being slowed by indecision rather than technical limitations.

For companies operating at the intersection of energy security and decarbonisation, the issue is not a lack of solutions but the failure to recognise and deploy them effectively. Reaching net zero will require pragmatic decision-making, grounded in engineering reality, and a willingness to use proven technologies to bridge the gap between today’s energy system and tomorrow’s low-carbon future.

One area where political division has had a particularly negative impact is in perceptions of the oil and gas industry. Too often, existing expertise and technology are dismissed because of their origins, despite their potential to play a meaningful role in supporting the transition. This overlooks the fact that many of the tools needed to deliver net zero already exist and can be adapted quickly and cost-effectively.

From AnTech’s perspective, technology reuse and intelligent product management will be critical to accelerating progress. The energy transition will not succeed through a “rip and replace” strategy alone. Instead, it must be supported by technologies that extend asset life, reduce risk, and enable new applications such as hydrogen storage, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and geothermal energy.

For example, subsurface monitoring and well integrity technologies developed for oil and gas operations are directly applicable to hydrogen and CO₂ storage projects. These technologies can help ensure safe containment, monitor changing downhole conditions, and support regulatory compliance without the need to develop entirely new systems from scratch.

Similarly, geothermal energy, a key component of the low-carbon energy mix, relies on the ability to operate in extremely high-temperature environments. Existing oil and gas instrumentation and monitoring solutions are already proven in these conditions, reducing both technical risk and development costs while accelerating deployment.

It is also important to recognise that oil and gas will continue to be required even as net-zero targets are approached. Current estimates suggest that around 20 per cent of today’s production levels will still be needed by 2050 to support industry, infrastructure and economic stability. This reality reinforces the need for smarter asset management, improved efficiency and lower-emission operations across existing fields.

The challenge of reaching net zero by 2050 is significant, but it is achievable with the right approach. Greater collaboration between policymakers, industry and technology providers is essential. By focusing on practical solutions, reusing proven technologies and applying them intelligently to new energy applications, the transition can be delivered faster, at lower cost, and with less risk.

Political fragmentation may be slowing progress, but engineering-led, product-driven solutions remain a powerful enabler of change. With clearer alignment and a more pragmatic mindset, the energy transition can move from debate to delivery.

Author: Clare Miszewska-Hall, Co-CEO, AnTech Ltd

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