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CCC advice on aviation published in ICAO 2010 report

October 6, 2010 in Aviation, Transport by Committee on Climate Change

The Committee’s analysis of the contribution that UK aviation could make to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases  has been published in ICAO’s 2010 Environment report.

The second International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) environmental report, is dedicated entirely to the topic of climate change. It brings together an array of ideas, solutions and challenges to feed the global discussion on how best to deal with the impact of aviation on the environment, in an effort to  accelerate moves to reduce aviation emissions.

The Committee was invited to provide a paper as part of Chapter 1 which focuses on aviation’s potential contribution to tackling climate change. The Committee’s paper, written by David Kennedy, Ben Combes and Owen Bellamy summarises some of the key recommendations from the Committee’s Aviation Report which sets out how the UK can meet its 2050 aviation target through a range of measures including improving fleet fuel efficiency, using biofuels, encouraging modal shift and introducing policies to limit demand.

The United Nations, Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon who wrote the foreword of the report said:

“Air travel has brought many benefits to modern life. Let us ensure that, from now on, it benefits both people and the planet”.

The CCC’s paper is on page 49-52 of this report: http://www.icao.int/icao/en/env2010/environmentreport_2010.pdf

Download the CCC’s report on UK aviation

5 key recommendations from our 2nd Progress Report

July 2, 2010 in Agriculture, Climate Change Act, Electricity market reform, Energy efficiency, Government Policy, Low-carbon economy, Progress Reports, Renewable heat, Transport, renewable energy by Committee on Climate Change

  1. Electricity market reform to provide stronger incentives for investment in low-carbon power generation. Government is right to consider setting a minimum price on carbon, and should consider an Emissions Performance Standard for new gas generation added after 2020.
  2. A national energy efficiency programme, addressing both financial and non-financial barriers, involving a whole house/ whole street approach whereby homeowners are assisted with insulating their houses, in addition to the proposed Pay as you Save scheme.
  3. Currently committed funding of £260 million to support electric car market development will be required to cover extra purchase costs and investment in a battery charging network, and should be protected. Government should set ambitious targets for electric cars on the road by 2020 (e.g. Committee’s analysis suggests 1.7 million cars is feasible and desirable).
  4. The framework for renewable heat should be finalised given the need for early investment, and significantly increased renewable heat penetration by 2020 (e.g. from 1% currently to 12% in 2020).
  5. New policies are required to drive down emissions in the agricultural sector. These should include measures to improve the efficiency of the methods by which fertilisers are applied to soils and livestock are fed and could result in significant emissions cuts.

Committee members at the launch of the 2nd Progress Report - 30 June 2010

“The challenge is to deliver radical change now”

May 11, 2010 in Julia King, Low-carbon economy, Transport by Committee on Climate Change | No comments

Julia King giving 6th John Collier Memorial Lecture

Professor Julia King, member of the Committee on Climate Change has been awarded the prestigious John Collier Memorial medal for exceptional commitment and contribution to nuclear industry and chemical engineering.

In a lecture prior to receiving the award she warned of the danger of inaction on climate change, “We have just 40 years to get this right – within the working life of undergraduates at university now. They will retire in a very different world. The challenge today is to deliver radical change – in infrastructure, technology, attitudes and in behaviour.”

The biennial John Collier Memorial Lecture was held on the 5th of May at the Royal Society in London.
Introducing the lecture was Dr Andy Spurr and Hannah Woor, both from British Energy Group PLC and Professor Richard Darton FREng, FIChemE, the Immediate Past President of IChemE.

Professor King addressed the importance of technology, innovation and consumer behaviour, and the role the UK is playing in international developments in tackling climate change. She said “it is important that we get science, engineering and policy right if we are to deliver in the future. Engineers and scientists must be ready to engage: in developing evidence-based policy and in enabling policy delivery by bringing forward innovative and affordable technical solutions that will really drive the transition to a low carbon world.”

Professor King also called for a step change in the pace at which low-carbon vehicles are developed beyond 2020, “we have to start now. We’ve got an industry and technology that consumers have got used to for 100 years – we need to change that quite radically which will be a shock to people, that’s why policy support is critical.”

Professor King is optimistic but realistic at the same time and concluded with reasons to be cheerful, “all 3 political parties are committed to 2050 target of 80%, power generation and road transport can deliver more that 80% reduction in emissions – and we know what we need to do, evidence based policy is having an impact and we can do it better, the automotive industry has moved from objecting to collaborating to embracing the opportunity. We can deliver both de-carbonisation and growth and today’s graduates are up for the challenge.”

The lecture finished with a lively question and answer session and a vote of thanks from Professor Michael Laughton FREng FIET, Royal Academy of Engineering.

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