According to a joint statement by eleven of the world’s largest engineering organisations, we already have the technology to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050. Collectively these organisations represent over 1.2 million engineers spanning four continents.

The statement says that generating electricity from wind, waves and the sun, growing sustainable biofuels, zero-emissions transport, low-carbon buildings and energy efficiency technologies have all been demonstrated.  However, these technologies are not being developed for wide-scale deployment fast enough and there is a desperate need for financial and legislative support from governments around the world if they are to fulfil their potential.

This joint statement was the product of the biennial Future Climate 2 conference held on 22-23 September 2011 at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The UK’s first commercial hydrogen refuelling station has opened on 20^th September 2011. This is the first hydrogen refuelling station to be opened as part of the ‘Hydrogen Highway’ initiative, which will be a network of hydrogen refuelling stations stretching along the M4 corridor, from Swansea to Swindon.

ZCB2030 has looked into possible scenarios for transport in the future. Running cars on hydrogen made from natural gas produces a 50-60% saving in CO₂ compared to running them on fossil fuels. However, due to the losses involved in the production of hydrogen, it will never exceed the efficiency of using electricity directly.

The advantage of hydrogen over electric batteries is that it is able to store more energy for less weight. It is therefore useful in vehicles where a very large amount of power is needed, or where it is not easy to stop and recharge or exchange batteries. ZCB2030 foresees the use of hydrogen to power heavier vehicles such as HGVs, buses and possibly taxi fleets.

To find out more about ZCB2030’s stance on the transport for the future, download and read ZCB2030: Chapter 5, or read the Chapter summary here.

European Mobility Week is here! And this year, the theme is ‘Alternative Mobility’; swapping fossil-fuelled power for human-powered travel. The aim is to promote a behavioural shift in transportation away from your private car to cycling or walking.

Events have been planned in six towns and cities across Britain. In Dorset, there was a celebration cycle ride on 18^th September to mark the opening of a brand new traffic-free cycle path from Dorchester to Weymouth. There were also opportunities for members of the public to try out electric cars and bicycles. In Taunton, Somerset, there is an ‘In Town Without My Car’ event on 22^nd September, where certain areas of the town are reserved solely for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

This is exactly the sort of behaviour that ZCB2030 is promoting… Currently, 80% of journeys are made in private cars, vans and taxis.  Just over 5% of us walk and cycle.  In ZCB2030, we see a future where twice as many people walk and three times as many people cycle.  People will be fitter and more active as a result, and the 54% of journeys that will still be made by private car will, of course, be powered by electricity!

To find out more about ZCB’s stance on the choices of transport for the future, download and read ZCB2030: Chapter 5, or read the Chapter summary here.

In April this year, Peter Harper was invited by the British Council on a lecture tour of Australia. Here is a link to the lecture he gave in the Sydney Town Hall.

Since the publication of ZCB2030, an organisation called Beyond Zero Emissions have come up with their own Zero Carbon Australia 2020 plan, which similarly provides all of their energy without recourse to nuclear or CCS.