Prof Jim Skea (UKERC) – 7th of October 2011
“The Role of the UK Committee on Climate Change: The story so far
and future challenges”
Abstract:
“The UK Committee on Climate Change has now been operating for
more than three years and has had a significant impact on the energy
and climate change policy landscape. The Committee has
recommended the UK’s long-term climate target, recommended carbon
budgets out to the late 2020s, monitored Government progress and
been solicited for ad-hoc advice on a range of topics: aviation policy; low
carbon innovation; and renewable energy ambition. The presentation will,
from the perspective of a member, review the Committee’s record and
asses the challenges it faces in the future. These come from a range of
sources: emerging concerns about “affordability”; a growing interest in
consumption-based approaches to carbon accounting; stalling progress
in EU climate policy; and the minimal likelihood of a comprehensive
global deal on climate change.”
Bio:
Jim Skea has particular research interests in energy, climate change
and technological innovation. He has been Research Director of the UK
Energy Research Centre, based at Imperial College, since 2004, and a
Professor of Sustainable Energy a at Imperial College since 2009. He
previously directed the Policy Studies Institute and the Economic and
Social Research Council’s Global Environmental Change Programme,
and was a Professorial Fellow at SPRU. He has operated at the
interface between research, policy-making and business throughout his
career. He is a founding member of the Committee on Climate Change
and a Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Working Group III (climate change mitigation). He is also on the Boards
of the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Blackrock New Energy
Investment Trust.