Climate and Carbon: where is the UK at?

The UK governments recent announcement that we will aim for net-zero with carbon emissions by 2050, and for it to be enshrined in law, is a big step forward. 

A recent climate conference in London pointed out that achieving this target would put us in line with the projected outcomes for a +1.5°C world (that is, of course, assuming the entire rest of the world took a similar stance), rather than the far worse +2 to +4°C scenarios.

This conference also pointed out several key things about the UK's carbon journey over the last few decades, and how it is shaping up for the next few (the squeamish might want to look away now);

• The Climate Change Act 2008 committed us to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 - against a 1990 baseline.
• Unfortunately, in the almost 30 years since 1990, we have only achieved about 30% - meaning there is another 70% or so to find in the next 30 years!
• One good point is that it seems that financially it shouldn't cost much more to realise the 100% target instead of 80%.
• We are currently on a target for the +3°C scenario at our current rate of action.
• But - there is a lot we can achieve relatively quickly - with some willpower and a bit of cash.
• Speed up the rate of Electric Vehicle Charge Point (EVCP) installation to meet the growing demand (it is currently way behind schedule). 
• This would also instil the confidence in more people that the infrastructure will be properly available if they choose to buy an EV.
• Continue investment in alternative fuel vehicles, especially at the heavy (truck) end. 
• It currently seems to be very hard to see past diesel - biodiesel is seen to be more damaging to engine components; hydrogen has potential but is hard to get a hold of; the same with CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).
• EV trucks may not be such a pipe dream. 
• A lot of work is being done on things like wireless on-road charging - such as the electric rail under the carriageway that can charge a vehicle as it moves along the road (a 2km demo section was laid in Sweden - they say, at €1m per km, it is around 50 times cheaper than laying urban tram lines). 
• And the added bonus for trucks, is that this kind of technology would mean that battery sizes would be reduced - which is a current stumbling block for trucks at the moment.
• Upgrades of domestic boilers from gas to smart electric. 
• This issue will be time, willpower and coordination rather than cost.

So there clearly needs to be a lot of focus - by government, by business leaders, and by financial markets (who put pressure on both of the other two to make changes). They all need to start to work in tandem on this, and they need to start right around now.

This also has to be replicated around the world - if not the 3°C, or frighteningly, the 4°C are more likely without this global action.

As an example: many of you will be aware that coral reefs have been struggling over recent decades. Warming oceans ruin the symbiosis enjoyed between the coral polyps and the algae needed for their survival. If the world achieves its hoped for limiting of global warming to just 1.5°C by 2050 - the estimate is that up to 90% of all coral reefs will still die. If global warming hits the +2°C mark, that estimate is more like 99%!

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Of course, all this is not to belittle all the smaller changes we can also make as individuals, as families, as businesses and as consumers.

Agricultural practice has a huge impact on global carbon emissions, currently coming in at around 15% . And red meat, especially beef, is one of the big culprits;

• Producing beef takes 28 times more land, and uses 11 times more water, than pork
• Cutting out 1 beef meal a week (100g / 4oz) will reduce your carbon emissions by 1.3kg
• That's 67.6kg / person / year!
• If 1 million meat lovers did that - this would eliminate over 67,000 tonnes of carbon a year.

Other small things that make a difference if we all do them include;

• Switch off your IT equipment when not in use - monitors, printers etc. overnight
• Don't idle your car unnecessarily
• Consider public transport over your car whenever possible
• Recycle whatever you can - waste in landfill gives huge amounts of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) including CO2

So, while we need to focus on the BIG stuff - keep on doing the LITTLE stuff. As a certain supermarket says - 'every little helps'.

Research:
https://timeforchange.org/eat-less-meat-co2-emission-of-food
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/21/giving-up-beef-reduce-carbon-footprint-more-than-cars 
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/great-barrier-reef-faces-dire-threat-with-2c-global-warming-un-report-says