Policy@Manchester’s Post

Nesta outlines ten key strategies to accelerate the UK's transition to net zero, focusing on clean energy, low-carbon heating, land reform, and public engagement. Key proposals include a national campaign to engage citizens in climate action, street-by-street household decarbonisation, expanding the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, and reforming stamp duty to incentivize energy efficiency. The report also advocates for adapting agricultural budgets to a national land-use framework, government procurement of low-carbon construction materials, and setting legally binding adaptation targets to improve climate resilience. #CCUS #Stayupdated

I often ask my students a nearly impossible question, but an important one: "what matters most, climate change adaptation and mitigation progress, or Just Transition outcomes?" Today, you can see that very question playing out in the Scottish Parliament. Speaking to the planned removal of interim climate change targets, acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin, said this morning that: "the scale of the societal changes needed for a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030 would not be fair or just on people in our society. It would cause serious impacts across communities and hit our people exceptionally hard, therefore we cannot achieve them...". The likely inference, as a member of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport committee commented, is that some climate change policy pathways are off the table on Just Transition grounds. Maybe that's a familiar argument to you, maybe you agree, or maybe that has been implicitly embedded in much policy thinking to date, but the clarity of the statement struck me. Now is a critical time to be continuing our research and practice in this space (in Scotland and beyond), and to continue to ask this difficult question. You can see the full evidence session here: https://lnkd.in/e_TkzBgD

#ClimateCommitments - #US President Joe Biden's administration has set a new target under the Paris climate agreement to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 61%-66% below 2005 levels by 2035. #We’re still in! became a rallying cry for US states back in 2016 when then-President Trump announced US withdrawal from the agreement. #Hawaii was the first state in the U.S. to commit to 100pc renewable energy by 2045 and a number of other states have followed suit. So officials are saying the new goal IS achievable by states even if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on vows to reverse federal policies. Local commitments and action will become even more important! Read more here - tinyurl.com/y2pem72r And read more here about Blue Planet Alliance recent workshops for states wanting to move faster to #clean, #green & #cheaper! https://lnkd.in/g9wzmRmv And of course in May 2025 we again welcome to #Hawai’i delegations from island nations wanting to transition faster to renewables, with workshops from ASU Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) Nathan Johnson & #Climate #Action tools in partnership with Climate TRACE, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment Climate Laws data base, The Villars Institute Yale University Dan Esty green subsidies, TransitionZero Matt Gray, The World Bank Global Parliamentary Network Kafu Kofi Tsikata and the Green Climate Fund Brad Punu Henk Rogers Lance Gould ASU LightWorks Nadia Meredith-Hunt Iruthisham (Iru) Adam Antoinette Vermilye (she/her) Celeste Connors Carl Hanlon Melissa Bryant Krista O'Brien Francois Rogers Hailey Campbell Care About Climate ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory Matt Miller Meredith Artley

🍀 🎙 St. Patrick's Day Special Release! 🎙 🍀 "If we tackle buildings, we're well on our way to tackling climate change," said Ciarán Cuffe, Dublin's own Green Party MEP 🌍✨ and get an insider take from the lead negotiator on the EU's new rules on energy efficiency on buildings - source of nearly 40% of EU emissions and more than a third of its energy use. Last week, the 'recast' Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 🏛️🌱decisively passed the EU Parliament and is headed to the Council of the EU for final approval. We talk about what it could mean for #climatetech #innovation. I first met Cuffe when he was a Dublin City Councillor more comfortable with a megaphone than the legislative give-and-take in the complex EU system. We talk a bit about that journey, upcoming European Parliament elections, the results of COP, and whether the elections of 2024 will represent more climate progress or see new policies under threat from #greenlash. Enjoy this for Paddy's Day and try to forgive the Dad jokes. 🌿💚 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation at wickedproblems.earth - also available at links in the comments!. #StPatricksDay #ClimateAction #EuropeanParliament #Sustainability #WickedProblemsPodcast https://lnkd.in/eKunaHhE

Take a look back at some of the highlights from our ACCELERATE: The Transition to a Net Zero Future conference in association with Institute of International and European Affairs which took place last month at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. The conference explored Ireland’s progress towards a clean energy future and innovations that could be key to accelerating the transition to net zero and discussed some of the most pressing issues in climate and energy policy in Ireland.  #ESBNetZeroFuture

UK's Climate Crossroads: 10 Actions for a Sustainable Future The UK Climate Change Committee has published their independent assessment of the key actions the UK needs to take to catch up on climate action. Their timely review comes at a crucial juncture following recent changes in UK Government and yesterday's King's Speech, with its focus on growth and renewal. With changes in our weather becoming more apparent, it's clear that action on climate adaptation is becoming as vital as mitigation efforts. Helpfully, the CCC has identified the following 10 actions for the UK to accelerate climate progress: 1. Make electricity cheaper by removing policy costs from prices. 2. Reverse recent policy rollbacks, especially on household boiler phase-outs and energy efficiency in rented homes. 3. Remove planning barriers for heat pumps, EV charging points, and onshore wind. 4. Implement a comprehensive decarbonisation programme for public sector buildings. 5. Effectively design renewable energy auctions to deliver 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030. 6. Accelerate industrial heat electrification through a strengthened UK Emissions Trading Scheme. 7. Significantly ramp up tree planting and peatland restoration efforts. 8. Finalise business models for large-scale deployment of engineered carbon removal. 9. Publish a strategy to support skills transition in affected sectors and communities. 10. Strengthen the National Adaptation Programme with clear objectives and integrate adaptation across all government departments. This balanced perspective on climate action offers a pragmatic framework for moving forward, potentially fostering UK-originated sustainable solutions that could drive economic growth and benefit society at large. #climateaction #sustainableinnovation #opportunity Here is a link to the CCC Report - https://lnkd.in/eKZ33j_H

🌍 Climate Action: 10 Key Steps for the UK's Sustainable Future 🌱 The independent UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has just released its crucial assessment of UK climate action. With recent government changes and the King's Speech emphasizing growth, this couldn't be more timely.  💡 Especially as Climate adaptation is becoming as vital as mitigation. Discover the 10 essential actions the UK must take, from making electricity cheaper to ramping up tree planting.   These steps offer a pragmatic roadmap for innovation needed to:   ✅ Accelerate climate progress ✅ Support sustainable economic growth ✅ Benefit society at large   Want to learn more about these opportunities, where the UK can lead in sustainable tech and practices?   Read our latest post (below) to find out!   https://lnkd.in/etCPSTa9   #ClimateAction #UKSustainability #GreenGrowth

The Net Zero decarbonisation pathways study for Brighton and Hove is now officially launched! It lays out the plans for: 🏠Retrofit of homes and commercial buildings ♨️rollout of Heat pumps 🏘️District heat networks ☀️Large scale solar installation 🔌Accelerating EV charger rollout ⚡️Electricity grid upgrades Phew there’s a lot to do! For all of this to happen – we need lots of exciting new technology. But none of it will happen without people. People weighing up whether they want to take the leap to switch to a heat pump, people deciding if an EV will work for them or if they could ditch their car altogether, people deciding to spend money to insulate their homes. There are lots of questions to answer: ❓ In a city with a high proportion of renters - How do we convince landlords to retrofit their properties when they won’t benefit from the energy savings? ❓ How do we make it the norm to turn the billions spent annually on home improvements to go beyond nice new kitchens and bathrooms and to install renewable energy systems? ❓ How do we avoid backlash to climate policies and make sure we’re effectively “selling” the co-benefits e.g. health and cheaper energy? ❓ How do we use social tipping points spread changes quickly? ❓ How do we get neighbours to come together and invest in community energy schemes? I’m looking forward to working with @climatechangebh and others to dig into these questions make sure people are at the heart of the energy transition in Brighton and Hove. You can read the full study here https://lnkd.in/e949ApH4 - and find a summary of the fantastic presentations from Tim Rowkins @andrewbarnett and Marie Claire Brisbois that break it down simply and clearly.

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal will transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring: - No net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 - Economic growth decoupled from resource use - No person and no place is left behind The European Green Deal is also our lifeline out of the COVID-19 pandemic. One-third of the €1.8 trillion investments from the NextGenerationEU Recovery Plan and the EU’s seven-year budget will finance the European Green Deal. The European Commission has adopted a set of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. #EuropeanGreenDeal #ClimateAction #ResourceEfficiency #NextGenerationEU #GreenRecovery

Today's report from the Climate Change Committee should be a clear impetus to action for the new UK government.   Put simply, we are off-track to meeting our climate targets. The report finds, for instance, that the UK government has credible plans in place for only a third of the emissions reductions required for its 2030 target.   The UK's current net-zero plan was found unlawful by the courts in May, in the case we took alongside Friends of the Earth and Good Law Project. Now, the new government must put forward a revised plan by May 2025.   They have made positive first steps since the election, but the task before them requires urgent and sustained action. Luckily, policies that will bring down emissions, such as mass home insulation and large-scale investment in public transport, would also improve the lives and finances of people across the country.