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Decarbonising transport: Inequality, joined-up action, and the risk of technological optimism

By and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The Department for Transport (DfT) recently released their long-awaited Decarbonising Transport plan. In this blog, Dr Cristina Temenos and Dr Joe Blakey outline how its technologically-optimistic vision risks locking in high-carbon futures, overlooking transport inequalities, and opportunities for joined-up thinking and the precautionary principle. DfT’s Decarbonising Transport Plan makes some welcome proposals, but it is […]

Taking the lead in hydrogen: next steps

By and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The deployment of new and existing materials will play a critical role in delivering the growth of the hydrogen sector, identified as a cornerstone of the UK Government’s net zero ambitions. In this blog, Professor Phil Withers and Dr Robert Sorrell, from the Henry Royce Institute, lay out the research priorities on the path to […]

building

Advanced nuclear energy for Net Zero: A strategy for action

Francis Livens By Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK has committed to a net zero 2050 target, but what place does nuclear energy have in meeting this ambition? In this blog, Professor Francis Livens from the Dalton Nuclear Institute outlines the recommendations of a new roadmap for the UK’s nuclear sector, including its role in hydrogen production, and what steps are needed […]

Decarbonising heating: flying by the heat of our pants?

By Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference – COP26 – is on the horizon, due to kick off in Glasgow on 1 November. It seems that, despite the socio-economic worries brought on by a global pandemic, heightened societal attention to climate change is here to stay. Now, more than ever, climate change is at the forefront […]

Doctors and Health professionals sat around a desk

Place-based developments in health care: What can we learn from health and wellbeing boards?

By Filed Under: All posts, Health and Social Care, Science and Engineering Posted:

This article was originally published in On Primary Care, a collection of essays identifying the challenges and opportunities facing policymakers today in the UK primary care sector. In this blog, Dr Anna Coleman from the Health Organisation, Policy and Economics (HOPE) group, emphasises the importance of Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) as integral functions in […]

One bin to rule them all: the future of plastic waste?

By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

Despite the success of environmental campaigners in raising awareness of plastic pollution, much of the plastic waste produced in the UK is not recycled. In part, this is due to the complexity of the multiple recycling schemes in place across the country, causing confusion for both the public and waste management companies in terms of […]

windmills at sea

Skills shortage: The biggest challenge to offshore wind in 2021

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

If we want to support the increased electrification of transport and heat proposed in the Energy White Paper, this will require a radical change in the management of our energy economy. Managing and driving this new economy requires the development of a skilled workforce. The problem is, it’s not clear where the skills will come […]

The hydrogen economy: why is the sub-surface essential?

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK Government has made a commitment to deliver a hydrogen economy as a means to decarbonise heating and heavy transport. This was most recently highlighted in the Government’s “Ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution” and the recent Energy White Paper “Powering our net zero future”. In this blog, Professor Kevin Taylor, from the […]

nuclear reactor

The 2020 Energy White Paper- Is nuclear power back?

Francis Livens By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The long-awaited Energy White Paper, Powering Our Net Zero Future, sets out an ambitious pathway to decarbonisation of the UK. It maps out many possible scenarios, with nuclear energy ranging from an irrelevance to a major contributor. Here, Professor Francis Livens from the Dalton Nuclear Institute, looks at what needs to happen in order for […]

windmill and factory

Turning climate change ambitions to reality

Sarah Mander By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK Government has announced both its aim to cut emissions by 68% by the end of 2030 and its Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, seeking to provide a blueprint to allow the UK “to forge ahead with eradicating its contribution to climate change by 2050”. Here, Dr Sarah Mander from the […]

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