David Kennedy, CEO , The Committee on Climate Change .
Categories: Energy and environment, Energy modelling, Energy policy, Meetings
Tags: CCC, Domestic heat, Emission reductions, Energy scenarios
Adam Whitmore, Chief Advisor on Energy and Climate Change Policy, Rio Tinto. Adam Whitmore considers three areas central to progress on climate policy – carbon pricing, the role of China and the cost of renewables – and looks at signs of progress and also remaining issues in each area. Further information can be found at www.onclimatechangepolicy.org
Categories: Energy and environment, Energy policy, Meetings
Tags: Emission reductions, parker seminars
Closing-the-emissions-gap-whitmore-0910131.pdf 244.98 KBMr Eric Ling, Committee on Climate Change This paper sets out a scenario for decarbonisation of surface transport between 2012 and 2050 consistent with the objective of meeting the UK’s Climate Change Act target of an 80% reduction in GHG emissions across all sectors of the UK economy, at lowest total cost to society. The specific focus is on (1) the technical performance and economic costs of low-carbon transport technologies, including the likely evolution of the costs of electric vehicle batteries, (2) travel patterns and their implications for market uptake of limited-range electric vehicles, and (2) the impact of decarbonisation of surface transport on UK energy demand (fossil fuels, biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen).
Categories: Academic Papers, Energy policy, Transport
Tags: Committee on Climate Change reports, conference 2012, Decarbonising transport, Electric vehicles, Emission reductions, European Energy in a Challenging World, Low carbon technology, surface transport
Decarbonising-surface-transport-in-2050.pdf 847.81 KBLing_E_decarbonising_surface_transport.pdf 1.25 MBMr Florian Habermacher, Inst. of Intl. and Applied Econ. Research, Uni. of St.Gallen Current and conceivable near-term climate protection measures are regionally constrained. We analyse leakage effects of unilateral climate policies, separately for major fossil fuels. In a business-as-usual scenario without future technological changes, unilateral oil (or gas) consumption reductions through climate protection measures are subject to very large leakage effects over the long run: because these fuels are strongly exhaustible, our dynamic fuel-market model shows that demand in the part of the world without stringent climate policies will offset a large fraction of domestic emission reductions in the medium-run notably because the lower domestic consumption reduces the fuel prices on the global markets. This is different for coal, which is much more abundant even in the medium-term future. Because coal reserves are so large, simulations show that medium-term leakage rates are low for domestic coal reductions, as these reductions have a comparatively small effect on the coal prices in other parts of the world. In this scenario, a unilateral carbon tax on coal emissions should correspond approximately to the Read more…
Categories: Academic Papers, Energy and environment, Energy economics
Tags: Carbon tax, Coal, conference 2012, Emission reductions, European Energy in a Challenging World, Fossil fuels
Carbon-Taxation-if-Liquefied-Coal-will-not-Substitute-Oil.pdf 473.99 KBHabermacher_Carbon-Taxation-if-Liquefied-Coal-will-not-Substitute-Oil.pdf 851.95 KBDr John Rhys, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are essentially cumulative in the earth\’s atmosphere. The thesis of this paper (drawing on an earlier OIES Working Paper) is that much economic analysis and policy making in relation to the mitigation of CO2 emissions has failed to reflect fully this essential element of the science. In particular the cumulative and irreversible nature of CO2 necessarily implies that a significantly heavier weight should attach to current as opposed to future emissions. This is in major contrast to some conventional wisdom and also to the outcomes and expectations that can be observed from current application of market-based approaches to limiting carbon emissions. Application of a progressive tightening of “carbon caps” – limits on total CO2 emissions - has tended to deliver a very different message on the relative importance of present and future emissions, with the price of current emissions being very low but with a prospect of rapid rises in the future. This inconsistency in time profiles, between a focus on costs or externalities – the social cost Read more…
Categories: Academic Papers, Energy and environment, Energy policy
Tags: Carbon budgets, carbon cap, conference 2012, Emission reductions, European Energy in a Challenging World
Climate-Change.-Has-the-economics-lost-contact-with-the-physics.pdf 997.17 KBCumulative-carbon-emissions-and-climate-change.pdf 228.27 KBMalcolm Keay, OIES This presentation looks at the links between energy efficiency and sustainability and concludes that they are much more complex than they might appear at first sight. The circumstances under which energy efficiency reduces energy demand, emissions and costs are discussed, including consideration of complexities such as rebound effects, elasticities and persistence of savings. Energy efficiency leads to sustainability when it leads to reduced demand, emissions and costs. To ensure this happens requires an integrated approach to the various systems issues. Policy needs to integrate energy efficiency and low carbon policies, monitor and measure properly and focus on areas where rebounds are less likely to be significant (e.g. storage, demand response, conversion efficiency) and contribution to sustainable systems likely to be greatest (e.g. smart grids, controls and communication, facilitation of non-fossil sources).
Categories: Energy and environment, Energy demand, Energy efficiency, Energy policy, Meetings
Tags: Carbon emissions, Emission reductions, Energy policy, Global, OIES, parker seminars, UK
Is Energy Efficiency Sustainable 2012.pdf 652.89 KBDr Ute Collier, Committee on Climate Change Discusses the nature of bioenergy in respect to feedstocks, conversion processes, and the potential end uses (heat and/or power, liquid fuels and gaseous fuels), considering current UK production levels. The review seeks to assess the potential role for bioenergy in meeting the carbon budgets, taking account of lifecycle emissions and other sustainability concerns as well as alternative uses for bioenergy feedstocks. It considers the role for bioenergy across different sectors and concludes that around 10% bioenergy penetration may be required to meet the 2050 target, and that this could be sustainable. Key priorities should be to develop CCS, develop bioenergy options, and invest in a range of other low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.
Categories: Energy and environment, Energy policy, Meetings, Transport
Tags: Biofuels, Buildings, Carbon budgets, CCC, CCS, Climate change, CO2, Committee on Climate Change reports, Electric vehicles, Emission reductions, Heat, Land use, power, Regulation, Technology, transport, UK
CCC Bioenergy Review Jan 2012.pdf 1.99 MBNeil Golborne, Committee on Climate Change The review has a number of key messages, including a recognition that current UK international shipping emissions are highly uncertain, but are likely to be in the range 12-16 MtCO2. It is suggested that there is scope for significant emissions reduction in shipping, beyond that targeted by the EEDI, but that this will require new policies. By 2050 UK international shipping emissions could account for up to 11% of allowed emissions, as such, international shipping emissions should ideally be included in the 2050 target. To enable this, the CCC propose three options for their inclusion: 1) In the 2050 target and carbon budgets now; 2) In the 2050 target and carbon budgets when progress has been made developing internationally agreed methodologies; and 3) In the 2050 target now, but in carbon budgets at a later date. The CCC is due to make a recommendation on which option should be pursued in spring 2012.
Categories: Energy and environment, Energy policy, Meetings, Transport
Tags: Carbon budgets, Carbon tax, CCC, Climate change, CO2, Committee on Climate Change reports, Emission reductions, Regulation, Shipping, transport, UK
Shipping Emissions Report CCC 2011.pdf 1.15 MBGraham Rice, INEOS Bio The INEOS Bio company and technology portfolio are described, discussing different pathways to bioethanol production (hydrolysis, gasification and fermentation) to produce syngas and ultimately bioethanol; using a range of feedstocks (sugar and starch crops, cellulose material, ligno-cellulose and other biomass). The conversion processes are shown, alongside potential end uses and a life cycle analysis showing climate impacts. Potential benefits of the process include reducing carbon emissions, contributing to energy security, whilst also making use of waste resources and creating skilled jobs and wealth, to support the emerging bio-economy.
Categories: Energy and environment, Energy security, Meetings, Renewables
Tags: Biofuels, Climate change, CO2, Emission reductions, Global, Land use
Advanced Bioenthanol production Biofuels 2011.pdf 1.75 MBJim Watson, Sussex Energy Group Provides an overview of the Cancun climate negotiations and outcomes, highlighting positive outcomes and a number of issues that remain unresolved, linking back to the pledges made at Copenhagen by Annex 1 and developing countries. Discussion on the technology and finance aspects of the climate change talks includes technology transfer and its role within the innovation process and the potential role of Climate Technology Centres. The implications for the UK are set out in respect to the Climate Change Act, the provision of international finance, the impact of the recession and the need for demonstrating progress and competitiveness.
Categories: Energy and environment, Energy policy, Meetings
Tags: Climate change, Climate finance, CO2, emerging markets, Emission reductions, Innovation, Jim Watson, parker seminars, Technology, UK
Cancun and the implications for UK Climate change policy 2011.pdf 727.74 KBFor priority access to our events & gain access to our downloadable resources
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