Low Carbon Society Initiative

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Low Carbon Society Initiative

• Professor Andrew Sentance, WBS
• 23rd June 2009
• https//go.warwick.ac.uk/lowcarbon

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Introduction

• Vision 2015 Strategy
• 1.To make Warwick an undisputed world leader in
  research and scholarship

• 1.5. To set up at least three new large
  interdisciplinary research centres which will sit
  alongside the already successful centres in the
  University

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Outline

• The challenge of the Low Carbon Society
• Key activities to date
• Next steps

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Stabilising the global climate
Source Stern Review
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CO2 Emissions targets in context
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8 GtC/yr now
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Stabilisation at 450 ppmv requires a 60 cut in
global CO2 emissions by 2050
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Global CO2 Emissions (GtC/yr)?
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3 GtC/yr by 2050
..and continuous reductions beyond 2050
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2300
1900
2200
2000
1950
2100
2050
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Carbon emissions per head
CO2 per capita, 2005 values
2050 target 2-2.5 T
Source OECD
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Greenhouse gas emissions, by sourceGlobal GHG
emissions in 2000 42GT CO2 equivalent
Non-energy emissions
Source Stern Review (2006)
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Three big challenges

• Decarbonisation of power sector and transport
• Increasing energy efficiency of industry
  buildings
• Cutting non-energy emissions from agriculture,
  changes in land use waste

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• It is not from the benevolence of the butcher,
  the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our
  dinner, but from their regard to their own
  interest.
• Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, 1776

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Building the low carbon economy
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Decarbonisation of power sector

• Conventional renewables
• Nuclear power
• Carbon capture and storage
• Bio-fuels and bio-mass
• Energy storage schemes

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CO2 emissions by UK transport modeGrams per
passenger km
Sources Committee on Climate Change, 2008 CfIT
(2007) and authors estimates. Note that 2050
figures are illustrative based on 90
decarbonised electricity
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Potential size of carbon markets

• Extending EU ETS to power and industrial sectors
  in Top 20 countries would create a market of
  US90-350 bn

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Activities (1)

• Support development of Research ideas across
  campus - workshops on
• Game theory in climate change mitigation
• Global emissions trading
• Energy trading
• Role of social norms in building a low carbon
  society
• Adoption of low carbon vehicle technologies
• Current trends in photovoltaic energy systems

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Activities (2)

• Steering group to co-ordinate and develop
  activities, including research proposals
• Linkages with other related centres and
  initiatives (eg WISER, Warwick HRI)
• Energy and Low Carbon Seminar series
• Workshops with Intellect (IT industry)
• ESRC Seminar Series
• Conference Challenges in the Transition to a
  Low Carbon Society 13/14 July 2009

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Conference Challenges in the Transition to a
Low Carbon Society

• Exploring the technological, economic, social and
  political challenges of moving to a Low Carbon
  Society
• Key sessions vision, energy, transport,
  technology, strategy/behaviour
• Closing panel with key regional business
  executives and policy-makers
• 13-14th July 2009, Scarman Conference Centre
• 25 speakers and panellists from academia,
  business and policy-making
• Places are still available- please register at
  https//go.warwick.ac.uk/lowcarbon/conference

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Next steps

• Build new research partnerships across Warwick
  research community
• Develop regional links e.g. AWM, local policy
  makers, other Midlands Universities
• Establish a business network
• Agree research themes and other activities
• Identify key sources of funding
• Proposal to University in 2009H2 for carrying
  forward this initiative

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Coming soon - Warwick Footprint

• A new environmental initiative, open to all
  members of the University community
• Website launching soon
• Make a pledge
• Submit your idea
• Find out more about environmental research at
  Warwick
• Provides an opportunity for staff and students to
  do their bit to make Warwick a greener place to
  work and study