In a world where net zero is mission critical, how can Defence balance the urgency of climate change with the importance of operational strategy to deliver on its sustainability targets?

“We are faced for the first time in human history with an existential challenge,” warns Lord Deben, chairman of the UK’s Committee on Climate Change. “The truth is, we don’t have much time,” he says. “And yet we have an answer. We know how to do it.”

Against this backdrop, “organisations – and the MOD included – can't afford to stay still,” says Howard Lungley, Principal Consultant at Frazer-Nash.

It’s a warning that comes amidst mounting competition over scarce resources, increasing frequency and severity of environmental emergencies, and the growing threat of health crises and civil unrest. And it’s one not to be ignored by the MOD, the department that accounts for approximately 50% of central government emissions.

Maj Gen David Southall, the Army’s Director of Basing and Infrastructure, echoes this sentiment. “The political consequences, the economic consequences, as well as the environmental consequences of not tackling this challenge are simply far too grave, far too profound,” he says.

“Success in this arena is going to require something very different tomorrow to what we have done from a rear-view mirror perspective: a more digitised force, a lighter more agile force and more expeditionary force,” says Maj Gen Southall.

So how can the Ministry of Defence take a long-term strategic approach to sustainability? And what role will transformation play in enabling the military to deliver on its net zero targets?

In this panel discussion, Lord Deben, Maj Gen Southall and Howard Lungley join Megan Wright, Senior Editor at Longitude, to discuss the strategic implications of a low-carbon military.

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Babcock’s Managing Director of Technology, Jon Hall, is the new Chair of Team Defence Information, (TDI). TDI is responsible for uniting the UK’s defence industry to collaborate, develop and share best practice, support research into innovation and technology, and support the UK Government and MOD.

In this first podcast, Jon talks to Phil Williams, Managing Director of TDI, about how Babcock is adapting to working in different ways, the growing importance of technology and sustainability and what industry can do to attract and engage the next generation of engineers to their business.

Babcock is also actively engaged with TDI across a number of forums including the Joint Information Group, the Defence & Industry Support Chain Optimisation Group, and more recently, the newly established Sustainability Steering Group. 

As well as being the Chair of TDI, Jon is part of the executive group in the Defence Suppliers’ Forum, a key conduit for MoD/industry relationships and shared objectives.

Jon joined Babcock in 2008 as MD of Technology and is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and holds a PhD from Bath University for research work in digital modelling and optimisation of integrated systems.

“Babcock likes to work in collaborative spaces and our partnership with TDI brings many elements of Babcock’s expertise together, from strategy to sustainability to engaging the next generation of engineers.

“We’ve learned to adapt and operate, very successfully and often in challenging situations, over the past few months and that just highlights why successful partnerships matter to us.”

Phil Williams welcomed Jon to his new role.

"I am delighted to welcome Dr Jon Hall as the Chairman of Team Defence Information. He brings with him a wealth of experience in the “Defence” world and his reputation for collaboration across the Industry partners plays well into the hand that TDI shares.

The past few months has seen the acceleration of the adoption of news ways of working and doing business and has only served to highlight the focus on data and its exploitation, a “digital backbone” that connects MOD and Industry and the need to embrace robust through life support strategies.

Given the above, I believe the role of TDI in helping to deliver UK defence capability is more relevant than ever and I trust the ensuing discussion will give some guidance on how this is to be achieved."

Babcock is the second largest supplier in the UK to the MOD, providing support to all three British Armed Services. Babcock also has an established presence in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France and supports submarine programmes in South Korea and Spain. It is a core member of the UK Defence Growth Partnership.

For more information on Babcock International Group visit www.babcockinternational.com for more information about TDI visit www.teamdefence.info

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The mission set out by the Common Mission Project is to create an international network of entrepreneurs driven to solve the critical challenges of our time—from national security to natural disasters, from energy to the environment.

Dr Ali Hawks talks to Luca about the H4MOD initiative and how it is supporting the UK MOD.

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The Turing Trust supports education in sub-Saharan Africa by reusing computers and improving teacher training using ICT.

They provide skills development in the UK while reducing waste and contributing to an environmentally friendly society.

They have reused over 4,200 PCs enabling more than 41,000 students to gain a digital education.

To support their work, please visit https://turingtrust.co.uk/.

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A welcome from Phil Williams, the Team Defence Information Managing Director.

This is the first in a series of audio bulletins that will be released over the course of April to mark our virtual Defence Information Conference.

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