A big welcome to the first ZeroCarbonBritain newsletter of 2012 and and in particular to the 456 new members who have signed up for the Zero Carbon Britain Newsletter recently. Older members may notice that the format is slightly different this time. The ZCB team have brought together a number of up-to-date articles relevant to the different areas covered by ZCB2030, including:
ZCB News, Climate science, powering down, the built environment, transport, land use and agriculture, renewables (both in the UK and abroad), policy and economics, and employment.
ZCB News
The next phase of ZCB
We are excited to be planning a further research phase of the ZCB project. A welcome process of criticism, feedback and reflection, plus the emergence of new environmental technologies since publication, has clarified the way forward.
Specifically we would like to look how improved wind prediction might reduce emissions from back-up facilities.
We also intend to investigate the possibilities for using the Sabatier process to store energy when there is excess electricity in the grid. During this process the hydrogen released by electrolysis is combined with CO2 to produce methane, which could be stored or introduced into the gas grid.
The ZCB2030 Land Use section provoked a great deal of interest so further work has already been commissioned to expand on its ideas.
Finally, we will develop a piece of modular open-source, energy-modelling software that will allow many more people to understand, use and adapt the basic ZCB scenario.
ZeroCarbonBritain Day on 21stJuly
For the second year running we are planning a ZeroCarbonBritain Day in order to draw attention to the ideas in our report and the possibility of taking action to prevent unnecessary climate catastrophe.
ZeroCarbonBritain day is being co-organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change and this year will take place on 21st July. The idea so far is for groups to take action in their local areas to draw attention to ZCB and to draw their local MP's attention to the solutions laid out in the report. Feedback from last year's demonstration and actions can be found here.
News from the sectors addressed in ZeroCarbonBritain2030
Emissions
According to DECC, in 2010 UK greenhouse gas emissions rose by 3.1% to an estimated 590.4mtCO2e. The government claims that this was caused by the cold winter last year, but the figures indicate that consumption of fossil fuels is increasing. Even by its own measurements the government is failing in its duty to reduce emissions, and this is without taking into account the added emissions from international flights and imported goods.
Chris Tuppen (Advancing Sustainability), Guy Shrubsole (PIRC), Eric Lounsbury (Carbon Trust) and Dr Keith Allott (WWF) gave evidence to parliament on the usefulness of using a 'consumption-based' rather than a 'production-based' accounting system for measuring the UK's contribution to world emissions.
James Hansen of NASA’s Goddard Institute has published his latest climate paper showing that the apparent slowdown of global warming in the last few years is probably just a blip and that we can expect renewed temperature acceleration over the next few years.
The Public Interest Research Centre has launched a great new website called 'Talking Climate' discussing how best to communicate climate change and climate science to an unwilling public.
Powering Down
Looking to get a new domestic appliance and not sure who to trust about energy saving replacements? The Ecologist gives you a breakdown on which appliances are most eco-friendly. This needs to be balanced against the embodied energy of the new appliance and first it’s probably best to ask: do you really need a new one at all?
The Built Environment
The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation consultation has just closedand the proposals are coming in for a lot of flak.
The London Array, which will be double the size of the Thanet wind farm - to date the largest offshore wind farm in the world - is due to be completed this year. Rikki Stancich reports on the trials and tribulations involved in making the project happen
More good news: the MoD has successfully trialled a new form of radar that ignores the spinning blades of wind turbines. This will unlock around 4GW of offshore wind farms to which the MoD had previously objected.
There has been widespread confusion in government as to how the Feed-in Tariff for solar PV ought to be changed. CAT's own information officer, Tobi Kellner, makes sense out of the recent furore.
Sadly, 10:10 has not managed to persuade Sir George Young to give MPs the opportunity to vote on putting the clocks back an hour so that we would have an hour of extra light in the evenings, when more of us are awake and more likely to be using electricity if it's dark. Under the guidance of the redoubtable Franny Armstrong, however, they are not giving up yet.
Also, if you know of anyone or any organization that would like to organize a ZeroCarbonBritain talk, we have a number of experts here at CAT who would be happy to travel and deliver a workshop or talk for a charitable fee.
‘Now that we have [zerocarbonbritain2030], what can we do to bring it into reality? We can spread it around, enthuse about it far and wide, badger and lobby our elected local and national representatives with it, and at the local level, use it to underpin our thinking about where we see our communities going. Whether we choose to see the changes compelled by peak oil and climate change as a disaster, or as an historic opportunity to, as Thomas Paine put it, ‘build the world anew’ it is up to us.’
Rob Hopkins, Founder of Transition Towns in a review of zerocarbonbritain2030
Next month will mark the one year anniversary of zerocarbonbritain2030 (ZCB2030). This newsletter aims to run though of some of the highlights since the launch in June 2010. Click on the highlighted text below to read the full news articles.
ZCB Highlights from 2010:
Chris Huhne, Energy and Climate Minister, Department of Energy and Climate Change, (DECC) and Jane Davidson, Environment Minister, Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) received copies of the report whilst attending the official zerocarbonbritain2030 launches in Westminster and at the National Assembly for Wales. It has since been presented to academics, grassroots organisations, industry players and NGO’s across the UK, Europe and the globe. Read more about both launches and press highlights here.
Continued support form the Welsh Assembly Government led to the launch of WAG’s new Climate Strategy here in CAT’s new WISE building. In November ZCB2030 Director Paul Allen was invited onto the Science Advisory Council for Wales; and CAT was selected to become a Science Advisory Hub in March this year.
In October 2010 ‘Zero Carbon Britain’ was selected as the theme of the Schumacher Society’s annual lecture in Bristol, with a day of presentations, and practical and theoretical workshops from 10:10, Good Energy, WWF, Sustain, European Environment Agency and CAT. ZCB2030 has since been an ongoing focus for the Schumacher College who are negotiating a new related Masters course to begin next year.
‘Zero Carbon Britain by 2030’ became the focus for the National Climate March in December, attended by 2000 trade unionists, activists and NGO’s with Caroline Lucas (MP), Friends of the Earth and CAT calling for politicians to “be brave”. Read more and watch our CAT video of the march from the link above. Simultaneously the Early Day Motion: ‘Action on Climate Change’ began to collect MP support, calling for ‘immediate action…with a longer term goal of achieving a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030’.
ZCB ART
Zero Carbon Britain 2030 is making an impact in the Arts, after featuring at a series of Artist seminars across Wales, and was the focus of a working seminar for Fellows at the Royal Society of the Arts in February called ‘Living in a Zero Carbon Britain: Rising to the challenges of the 21st Century’. The seminars explored, how the arts could play a part in influencing behavioural change and encouraging positive visions of a zero carbon future.
CAT are Calling all Artists, animators, illustrators and filmmakers who are interested in creating a vision of 'Zero Carbon Britain by 2030' to get in touch. We are hoping to collect artworks from a range of artists that explore some of the themes in the report. A selection of our favourites will feature in CAT’s new ZCB2030 display area.
We are currently working on ways to integrate ZCB2030 into our Visitors’ Circuit here at CAT, where the ethos of ZCB2030 underpins much of our wider work via Education, our free Information Service and our numerous courses here at CAT. After a successful trial this Easter, daily presentations of ZCB2030 will be available free on the visitor circuit over the May/June half term and over the summer holidays. Each visitor to CAT will also receive the brand new ZCB2030 8 page pamphlet that you can also download free from our website.
Zero Carbon Europe:
In October last year, CAT contributed to DECC’s energy calculator analysis with its own more ambitious version. DECC’s 2050 Pathways Analysis will be one source of evidence to determine the UK’s new carbon budget for 2023 – 2027. Our investigation shows that Britain can reach far beyond the government’s current target of an 80% reduction in green house gases by 2050, to a 100% reduction by 2030 with no need for new nuclear, or any continued use of fossil fuels. See CAT’s Consultation response here (under 'C').
In order to achieve ZCB2030, we need an international agreement, emphasising the need to support rapid decarbonisation scenarios across Europe and further afield. CAT’s ongoing partnership with INFORSE Europe and the Low Carbon Societies Network led to a week- long seminar with practical workshops representing decarbonisation scenarios from across the EU in October 2010. This was followed by the ‘Zero Carbon Road Show’ with Paul Allen and INFORSE’s Gunnar Boyle Olesen, presenting their complimentary UK and European scenarios to the European parliament in Brussels, the Catalan Institute of Engineers in Barcelona and the National Assembly in Paris.
Zero Carbon World:
On the global scale Research Director Peter Harper lectured as part of the Zero Carbon Australia project in Sydney and Melbourne this April, whilst report contributor and Open University Professor of Renewable Energy Godfrey Boyle continues to lecture on how the world could be ‘Living off the Sun’ by 2050. See the Zero Carbon World section of the site.
Over to you - How you can help take zerocarbonbritain2030 from Report to Reality:
2) Organise your own Zero Carbon Britain Day on July 16th. Campaign Against Climate Change, Climate Alliance and CAT are organising a Zero Carbon Britain Day on 16th July: If you are interested in getting involved in your local area by hosting a Zero Carbon Britain event such as a Picnic, Presentation or Quiz then please get in touch with our new communications officer, Bruce Heagerty
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There will be two training events one in London at the Grayston Centre on 25th June and one at the Roundhouse in Derby on 9th July. To book a place at these sessions contact
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6)Donate to the zerocarbonbritain2030 project to further communication, research and interpretation of ZCB2030
As our track record demonstrates, zerocarbonbritain2030 has gained widespread support and engagement on a national and international scale. As we enter our next phase of communication and further research, we ask individuals, policy makers and industry to be brave: our evidence shows that zerocarbonbritian2030 is a convincing scenario for a positive, healthier decarbonised society. “The science says we must, technology says we can, it’s time to say we will’.
Time to say we will
zerocarbonbritain2030 is a positive, realistic policy framework to eliminate emissions from fossil fuels within 20 years.
Next month will mark the one year anniversary of zerocarbonbritain2030 (ZCB2030). This newsletter aims to run though of some of the highlights since its launch in June 2010.
We would like to welcome any supporters who have recently signed up and apologise to anyone who has not received our past newsletters due to a technical hitch, that has evidently been resolved. Our past newsletters can be found here. From now on we will be sending you a bimonthly newsletter to keep you up to date with ZCB events.
Highlights from Zero Carbon Britain:
Chris Huhne, Energy and Climate Minister, Department of Energy and Climate Change, (DECC) and Jane Davidson, Environment Minister, Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) received copies of the report whilst attending the official zerocarbonbritain2030 launches in Westminster and at the National Assembly for Wales. It has since been presented to academics, grassroots organisations, industry players and NGO’s across the UK, Europe and the globe. Read more about both launches and press highlights here.
Continued support form the Welsh Assembly Government led to the launch of WAG’s new Climate Strategy here in CAT’s new WISE building. In November ZCB2030 Director Paul Allen was invited onto the Science Advisory Council for Wales; and CAT was selected to become a Science Advisory Hub in March this year. Click on the links above to read more.
In October 2010 ‘Zero Carbon Britain’ was selected as the theme of the Schumacher Society’s annual lecture in Bristol, with a day of presentations, and practical and theoretical workshops from 10:10, Good Energy, WWF, Sustain, European Environment Agency and CAT. ZCB2030 has since been an ongoing focus for the Schumacher College who are negotiating a new related Masters course to begin next year.
‘Zero Carbon Britain by 2030’ became the focus for the National Climate March, attended by 2000 trade unionists, activists and NGO’s with Caroline Lucas (MP), Friends of the Earth and CAT calling for politicians to “be brave”. Read more and watch our CAT video of the march from the link above. An Early Day Motion: ‘Action on Climate Change’ has been signed by 20 MP’s, calling for ‘immediate action…with a longer term goal of achieving a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030’.
Zero Carbon Britain 2030 is making an impact in the Arts, after featuring at a series of Artist seminars across Wales, and was the focus of a working seminar for Fellows at the Royal Society of the Arts in February ‘Living in a Zero Carbon Britain: Rising to the challenges of the 21st Century’. The seminars explored, how the arts could play a part in influencing behavioural change and encouraging positive visions of a zero carbon future. Follow the links above to read more.
We are currently working on ways to integrate ZCB2030 into our Visitors’ Circuit here at CAT, where the ethos of ZCB2030 underpins much of our wider work via Education, our free Information Service and our numerous courses here at CAT. After a successful trial this Easter, daily presentations of ZCB2030 will be available free on the visitor circuit over the May/June half term and over the summer. Each visitor to CAT will also receive the brand new ZCB2030 8 page pamphlet that you can download from our website and..
Calling all artists!
CAT are calling for artists, animators, illustrators and filmmakers who are interested in creating a vision of 'Zero Carbon Britain by 2030' to get in touch. We are hoping to collect artworks from a range of artists that explore some of the themes in the report. And the best of them will have pride of place in CAT’s new ZCB display area.
Zero Carbon Europe:
In October last year, CAT contributed to DECC’s energy calculator analysis with its own more ambitious version. DECC’s 2050 Pathways Analysis will be one source of evidence to determine the UK’s new carbon budget for 2023 – 2027. Our investigation shows that Britain can reach far beyond the government’s current target of an 80% reduction in green house gases by 2050, to a 100% reduction by 2030 with no need for new nuclear, or any continued use of fossil fuels. See CAT’s Consultation response here.
In order to achieve ZCB2030, we need an international agreement, emphasising the need to support rapid decarbonisation scenarios across Europe and further afield. CAT’s ongoing partnership with INFORSE Europe and the Low Carbon Societies Network led to a week- long seminar with practical workshops representing decarbonisation scenarios from across the EU in October 2010. This was followed by the ‘Zero Carbon Road Show’ with Paul Allen and INFORSE’s Gunnar Boyle Olesen, presenting their complimentary UK and European scenarios to the European parliament in Brussels, the Catalan Institute of Engineers in Barcelona and the National Assembly in Paris.
On the global scale Research Director Peter Harper lectured as part of the Zero Carbon Australia project in Sydney and Melbourne this April, whilst report contributor and Open University Professor of Renewable Energy Godfrey Boyle ( continues to lecture on how the world could be ‘Living off the Sun’ by 2050. See the Zero Carbon World section of the site.
How you can help take zerocarbonbritain2030 from Report to Reality:
There will be two training events for the event, one in London at the Grayston Centre on 25th June or at the Roundhouse in Derby on 9th July.. Book a place at these sessions through
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5)Donate to the zerocarbonbritain2030 project to further communication, research and interpretation of ZCB2030.
As our track record demonstrates, zerocarbonbritain2030 has gained widespread support and engagement on a national and international scale. As we enter our next phase of communication and further research, we ask individuals, policy makers and industry to be brave: our evidence shows that zerocarbonbritian2030 is a convincing scenario for a positive, healthier decarbonised society. “The science says we must, technology says we can, it’s time to say we will’.
“zerocarbonbritain2030 has effectively applied a ‘backcasting’ approach to demonstrate that at least one set of policy options and technical measures exists to eliminate carbon emissions whilst simultaneously enhancing our quality of life. We now need the political leadership, public consensus, and ongoing scientific support to turn possibility into reality.”
Professor Graham Parkhurst, Centre for Transport and Society, University of the West of England.
2010 saw zerocarbonbritain2030launch in UK and Welsh Parliament, be presented at the Spanish and French Assemblies, the focus of the Schumacher Society Lecture of 2010, taken to environmental and visual arts platforms across the UK, featured in the December issue of the New Internationalist and was the focus for 2000 demonstrators at the National Climate March on Parliament for a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030 in December. In the wake of International climate talks in Cancun, and with COP17 at Durban on the horizon, let's hope the New Year brings accountable and positive action on climate change. 2011 is the 'time to say we will'.
In this months roundup...
2000 demonstrators march for a Zero Carbon Britain 2030
Calling all animators, film makers and illustrators for positive visioning
Join the Essential Elements for Rapid Decarbonisation
Comment: What was agreed in Cancun?
5 ways to support our work
2000 demonstrators march for a Zero Carbon Britain 2030
On 4th December staff and supporters of CAT joined demonstrators who marched on Parliament for Zero Carbon Britain by 2030, to coincide with the international climate talks at COP15 in Cancun.
Organisers of the march, Campaign Against Climate Change, said the zerocarbonbritain2030 report was inspirational as a positive focus for the rally. To kick start the march, a giant zero in 2030 was created by demonstrators to demand zero carbon emissions by the year 2030...
Find out how to become zero carbon ready from our free cat information service
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, or get re-skilled on one of our masters programmes or courses at CAT.
Calling animators, illustrators and film-makers!
Looking to expand your portfolio with a prestigious NGO on one of the most pressing challenges of our time?
We are calling for animators, illustrators and filmmakers who are interested in creating a vision of Zero Carbon Britain by 2030 to get in touch. We are hoping to collect short videos and 2D graphics from a range of artists that explore some of the themes in the report. These info-graphics would aid to spread the word about zerocarbonbritain2030, educate people of its content and encourage people and politicians to take it forward.
Below are starting points for your video, animation or illustration:
Demonstrate one section or idea from the report
Make a short snappy promo of the main report findings and aims
Create a positive vision of Zero Carbon Britain in 2030
For more information email:
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Comment: What was agreed at Cancun?
After Copenhagen, expectations of any form of concrete deal, or the future of the entire UN COP process, were not high. Some feared of it becoming a ‘zombie conference’ (Chris Huhne, DECC), where year on year negotiations continue without progress. However, despite not resulting in any concrete emissions cuts, Cancun has been hailed the saviour of the international framework for multilateral cooperation, making slow but steady progress from Copenhagen. We’re still in deep water, but at least know which direction dry land is...
Join the Essential Elements to Rapid Decarbonisation
There are many ways to get to zero. Through asking organisations to sign our Essential Elements Statement, we aim to find connections and cohesions between affiliating organisations that agree with the overall message for a zero carbon Britain by 2030. We will then plot your organisation on the Road to Rapid decarbonisation.
“In calling for a common sense of purpose, not just nationally but internationally too, [zerocarbonbritain2030] points out the benefits of society, its health, social welfare and sustainability, that will result from the pursuit of such a goal. May I urge you to study carefully its arguments and its findings."
Sir John Houghton, Former Co Chair of the International Panel on Climate Change, in a Review of zerocarbonbritain2030.
zerocarbonbritain2030 is a positive, realistic vision for a society without fossil fuels. It provides an equitable solution to the urgent challenges posed by climate change. It explores the synergies between sectors to create the first fully integrated solution to climate change.
In this roundup…
Where does your organisation fit in a zero carbon future? Join our ‘Essential Elements’ Statement
March on Parliament for a Zero Carbon Britain
So much for a green recovery: CAT comments on the Cuts
Does your MP recognise we need urgent ‘Action on Climate Change’?
Zero Carbon Roadshow: Next stop Brussels
Zero Carbon Britain: Schumacher Lecture 2010
zerocarbonbritain2030 will advise Wales Chief Scientist
Is the answer in the arts?
10 ways to Get Involved
How does your organisation align with zerocarbonbritain2030?
There are many ways to get to zero. Through asking organisations to sign our Essential Elements Statement, we aim to find connections and cohesions between affiliating organisations that agree with the overall message for a zero carbon Britain by 2030. We will then plot your organisation on the Road to Rapid decarbonisation.
Join the March on Parliament for a Zero Carbon Britain
As part of the Global Day of Action on 4 December, we take to the streets with Campaign against Climate Change in Central London to call for a zerocarbonbritain by 2030.
Join us to hear zerocarbonbritain- 2030's Paul Allen; supporting MP’s; Friends of the Earth; World Development Commission and Transition Towns show the UK government another solution.
If you can’t make it to London, join our online action on our facebook group.
So much for a green recovery: CAT comments on the Cuts
In the wake of the comprehensive spending review, our ‘greenest government ever’ shows a diminishing faith in a green recovery…
Plans to develop the Green Investment Bank now falls short …Renewables are at a significant disadvantage to fossil fuels due to the high upfront capital costs. This could be effectively tackled through a Green Investment Bank using government start-up funds to lever private capital. Ernest & Young estimate £4-£6 billion is needed to attract significant investment from the private sector. The £1 billion promised by the government is not enough, and the UK could lose its chance to become a global leader in offshore wind technology. It would also have been the catalyst for the thousands of jobs possible through the manufacture, installation and maintenance of turbines...
Does your MP recognise we need urgent ‘Action on Climate Change’?
An Early Day Motion submitted by labour MP John McDonnell, thanks to Campaign Against Climate Change, calls for recognition of the current ‘climate emergency’. EDM 853: Action on Climate Change’ states that ‘immediate action is needed…with a longer-term goal of achieving a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030’. Read zerocarbonbritain2030’s response to the EDM below:
In December INFORSE-Europe and CAT end their Road Show at the European Parliament in Brussels. The day will be introduced by Jill Evans MEP for Wales, followed by zerocarbonbritain2030 presented by CAT’s Paul Allen, and INFORSE-Europe’s Gunnar Boye Olesen, who will launch their new strategy to phase-out fossil fuels for the entire EU by 2040.
CAT partnered with the Schumacher Society on October 16 to present the 2010 Schumacher Conference to over 300 delegates, chaired by Paul Allen, Director of zerocarbonbritain2030.
Keynote speakers included Juliet Davenport (Good Energy), Peter Harper (CAT) and Jacqueline McGlade (European Environment Agency) followed by workshops from 10:10 on campaigning, WWF & Sustain on prosperity without growth, University of Bath on challenges to technological change and CAT on the new Feed-in Tariffs and Land Use change...
zerocarbonbritain2030 will advise Wales Chief Scientist
Prof. John Harries visited CAT on 5 November to invite zerocarbonbritain2030 project director, Paul Allen to represent CAT on the Science Advisory Council for Wales. The Council will meet quarterly to provide scientific advice to the First Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and ‘to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the role of science within the wider knowledge economy’. CAT has a strengthening relationship with WAG, and is privileged to accept this influential position. See the CAT press release here.
Is the Answer in the Arts?
A recent seminar for artists, Creative Practice for a Sustainable Future, explored the role of the arts in sustainability and behavioural change. Paul Allen offered zerocarbonbritain2030 as a ‘positive vision’ of society free from fossil fuels, and questioned the effectiveness of utopia compared to apocalyptic and dystopian visions such as The Day After Tomorrow and Age of Stupid that offer shock and despair as catalyst for action.
The one day seminar by Sustain-Wales held at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff last month, is the first of a series of seminars to circuit Wales in 2011, including in Swansea, Caernafon and here at CAT in the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education.
5) This week, Paul Allen from the zerocarbonbritain2030 team is the face of CAT social media. Join our facebook group for news and event updates, and help to raise zerocarbonbritain2030’s profile by ‘liking’ our posts
6) Download the full report for free or buy a hard from CAT Publications
7) Let us know how useful the zerocarbonbritain2030 report is for you:
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8) Learn more about the zerocarbonbritain2030 project; read summaries and frequently asked questions at www.zerocarbonbritain.org
9) Learn more about the Centre for Alternative Technology, become a member and check out our masters programmes, or hold your event in the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education
WAG’s Climate Change Strategy for Wales is launched at CAT
Media highlights and controversies
Upcoming events
Sign our letter of support
Join us
What is zerocarbonbritain2030?
zerocarbonbritain2030 is a positive vision that offers solutions across all sectors for a more efficient, healthier society, powered by 100% renewables.
Published as a new report by the Centre for Alternative Technology in June 2010, this vision includes input from thirteen universities, twelve research bodies and eight key industry players.
zerocarbonbritain2030 begins by examining the latest Climate Science, UK Energy Security and global Equity, to contextualize why 2030 is necessary and how zero is possible using existing technologies. The Power Down chapter outlines the mechanisms needed to reduce heat and electricity demand in The Built Environment and Transport sectors and through effective Behavioral Change. It looks at how we can reduce and sequester remaining emissions through efficient Land Use & Agriculture particularly though reducing our meat consumption, then Power Up with a 100% renewable energy system, primarily of offshore wind, and with no new nuclear. Finally the Policy & Economics and Employment chapters provide the political and economic Framework to enable an energy progressive Britain, with net greenhouse gas emissions at zero and a more efficient society by 2030.
Contributors Sir John Houghton (former IPCC), Victoria Johnson (new economics foundation), and Godfrey Boyle (Open University), together with CAT's Paul Allen and Peter Harper, launched zerocarbonbritain2030 at the All Party Climate Change Committee meeting in Westminster to the 200 attending NGO’s, Press and Ministers, who each received a free copy of the report.
Once securely in the hands of the attending Energy and Climate Minister, Chris Huhne (Department of Energy and Climate Change), zerocarbonbritain2030 launched in Welsh parliament, by Wales Environment Minister, Jane Davidson.
Paul Allen joins forces with INFORCE- Europe to present zerocarbonbritain2030to the French and Spanish Assembly.
zerocarbonbritain2030’s wider aim is to encourage and support energy modellers in other EU countries to begin exploring rapid de-carbonisation scenarios such as ours.
Last month zerocarbonbritain2030 was presented at the Catalunya Institute of Engineers in Barcelona and the National Assembly in Paris. If you speak Spanish you can watch Paul Allen (CAT Director) talking about the report on Catalunyan News 24.
This month INFORCE-Europe and the Low Carbon Societies Network held their annual Sustainable Energy NGO Seminar at CAT, where over 30 delegates from almost all EU countries gathered to share scenarios, and explore how to influence EU policy in a week long programme of talks, working groups and practical workshops in CAT’s new WISE building. Keep up to date with INFORCE here.
CAT responds to DECC’s Energy Mix Model
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released the new energy calculator in July, 2050 Pathways, that demonstrates the alternative ways to meet the governments current emission target of an 80% cut by 2050.
CAT responded to that consultation of the new tool with an adapted version. The zerocarbonbritain2030 matrix integrates key areas essential to our scenario that were not considered in DECC’s. These include:
far greater resource efficiency – in the transport and building sectors
reduced aviation demand – through effective behavioural change
reduced meat consumption – for a healthier more localised diet
far greater use of renewables, particularly offshore wind – for a 100% renewable energy mix
no new nuclear or CCS
to achieve net greenhouse gas emissions of zero by 2030
As our evidence shows, we can decarbonise faster and quicker than the current UK target using existing renewable energy technologies. In the case of offshore wind, DECC’s tool falls short of recent research that even they have endorsed.
DECC intends to make an updated version of 2050 Pathways available by autumn 2010 in light of the submitted evidence. The new version will be one source of evidence used to determine the UK’s new carbon budget for 2023 - 2027.
The zerocarbonbritain2030 Matrix will soon be made available for download from our website for those budding energy modellers out there!
WAG launch the Climate Change Strategy for Wales
The Climate Change Strategy for Wales, published this month, commits Wales to a 40% reduction in all greenhouse gas emissions against a 1990 baseline without carbon offsetting. The strategy will focus action on; behaviour change, leading by example, increased energy efficiency, the re skilling needed, and creating a framework for adaption for the most vulnerable.
With First Minister Carwyn Jones and Environment Minister Jane Davidson praised CAT for their ‘sterling work towards the Climate Change agenda’.
Media highlights and controversies
zerocarbonbritain2030 continues to stimulate debate across all sectors.
ITV Wales NewsTonight aired ‘Green Revolution ’after the Cardiff Senedd Launch. Jane Davidson (Environment Minister) and Alex Randal (CAT) explain why zerocarbonbritain2030 is integral to a revitalised Welsh economy and the future of farming in Wales.
Wales Online published the debate: ‘Farmers have a beef about eco centre’s call to cut stock by 80%’as the National Beef Association attempted to discredit our evidence for a necessary dramatic reduction in meat consumption.
The Guardian Online published the debate between CAT and CPRE, (Campaign for Protection of Rural England), who were concerned that our scenario would destroy the UK’s green and pleasant lands. CAT counter argues that landscapes have already changed in order to supply society’s needs, and the zerocarbonbritain2030 scenario increases biodiversity for a healthier landscape, with limited UK grown sustainable biofuels:
Keynote speakers include Juliet Davenport (Good Energy), Peter Harper (CAT) and Jacqulein McGlade (Environment Agency) with workshops from 10:10, WWF and CAT throughout the day.
What might the future look like if artists could change the world? This seminar for artists explores the role of positive visioning and behavioural change in the arts.
Campaign Against Climate Change take our message to their networks in this free Climate Forum. Speakers include Caroline Lucas (Green Party), Andrew Simms (nef), George Marshall (COIN) and Stephen Murphy (CAT).
As part of the Global Day of Action on Climate Change we March on Parliament for a zero carbon Britain with Campaign Against Climate Change.
To register for any of these events, follow the links above. You can also sign up for regular event updates by joining our facebook group.
Sign our letter of support
We are building a coalition of supporting organisations to share the zerocarbonbritain2030 vision for a prosperous, healthier and more efficient Britain. Show you support for our message by signing our letter and join the list of supporting organisations on our website.
As part of the Global Day of Action on 4 December, we take to the streets with 
An Early Day Motion submitted by labour MP John McDonnell, thanks to Campaign Against Climate Change, calls for recognition of the current ‘climate emergency’. EDM 853: Action on Climate Change’ states that ‘immediate action is needed…with a longer-term goal of achieving a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030’. Read zerocarbonbritain2030’s response to the EDM below:
Zero Carbon Britain: Schumacher Lecture 2010
Prof. John Harries visited CAT on 5 November to invite zerocarbonbritain2030 project director, Paul Allen to represent CAT on the Science Advisory Council for Wales. The Council will meet quarterly to provide scientific advice to the First Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and ‘to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the role of science within the wider knowledge economy’. CAT has a strengthening relationship with WAG, and is privileged to accept this influential position. See the CAT press release 
Contributors Sir John Houghton (former IPCC), Victoria Johnson (new economics foundation), and Godfrey Boyle (Open University), together with CAT's Paul Allen and Peter Harper, launched zerocarbonbritain2030 at the All Party Climate Change Committee meeting in Westminster to the 200 attending NGO’s, Press and Ministers, who each received a free copy of the report.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released the new energy calculator in July, 
