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Energy Research Topics: Low Carbon Economy
How can carbon dioxide emissions be best accounted for in relation to all economic activity? Two key policy instruments are taxation and emissions trading, with each approach having its pros and cons. ECI contributes to this wider debate in its work on Personal Carbon Trading, working out the detail of how a future scheme might work, based on emissions trading at the level of the individual.
Latest Projects
- UNderstanding LOcal and Community Governance of Energy (UNLOC)
2010 - 2012
The UNLOC project aims to develop a robust understanding of evolving patterns of energy governance at local and community levels. It will demonstrate how grassroots organisations, local government initiatives and national-scale activities interact to create new political opportunities for active citizen engagement in both energy demand reduction and deployment of local energy generation.
- First Step: UK Music Industry Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2007
2008
The first analysis of the carbon emissions of the UK music industry
- Home Truths
2007
A low carbon strategy to reduce UK Housing emissions by 80%
- ECEEE Summer Study 2007
Jun 07
Read ECI's six conference papers delivered at the eceee summer study.
- Predict and Decide: aviation, climate change and UK policy
Nov 05 - Oct 06
An assessment of the implications of aviation growth in the UK
- UK Energy Research Centre - Demand Reduction
Oct 04 - Apr 09
Addressing the challenge of how to reduce our energy demands. We will consider the introduction of new technologies and ways of influencing consumer behaviour whilst covering concerns about distribution and affordability.
- Personal Carbon Trading
Oct 04 - Apr 09
An investigation of personal carbon trading (PCT) as a proposed quantity-based policy instrument for reducing the carbon emissions by individuals.
- Quick Hits
Sep 06 - Dec 06
A series of proposed initiatives developed by the Demand Reduction theme of the UKERC, intended to make a useful contribution in reducing carbon emissions by 2010. They are designed to be relatively easily for the Government or local authorities to implement.
- UK Energy Research Centre - Meeting Place
Oct 04 - Apr 09
The networking hub for international specialists to tackle the challenge of sustainable energy.
- Methane UK
Completed 04
An ECI report recommending policy options for reducing the UK's methane emissions at the climate science, waste policy and energy interface.
- Analysis of Belgium's climate change mitigation policy
Completed Mar 03
How can Belgium reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5% to meet the Kyoto Protocol and the EU burden-sharing agreement? The ECI offers advice for enhancing energy efficiency.
- Carbon UK
Completed 02
This project considers the greenhouse gas impact of landfills in the UK by calculating landfill carbon budgets, which include carbon emissions associated with degradation, collecion and transport of waste going to landfill.
More Low Carbon Economy projects
Documents & Media
Reports and briefing papers
- Boardman, B. (2007) Home Truths: A low carbon strategy to reduce UK housing emissions by 80% Research Report for Co-operative Bank and Friends of the Earth. 27 November 2007
- Carbon Labelling: evidence, issues and questions - Briefing Paper for the Tesco-ECI carbon labelling workshop, 3-4 May 2007 (Download appendix material)
- Predict and decide: aviation, climate change and UK policy'
- Methane UK
- Carbon UK.
Tina Fawcett, Andrew Hurst, and Brenda Boardman (2002).
Print, radio & TV
- Belching cattle trample over Tesco's carbon footprint scheme Sunday Telegraph 26 May 2007
- Planes, brains, automobiles The Financial Times 27 April 2007
- Sticking to 70mph limit will reduce pollution The Times 23 October 2006
- How to cut your carbon footprint in 10 easy steps The Big Issue in Scotland 12 March 2007
- Brenda Boardman appeared on Radio 4's Today Programme: How can we expand our airports and still cut CO2 emissions? Listen again here.
17th October 2006 - What we need is carbon watchers. Fawcett, T. 2005. New Statesman, 3 October 2005
Journal papers
- Fawcett, T. (2005) Energy Matters: Personal Carbon Allowances. Geography Review, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 8-9
Selected presentations
- Carbon Labelling: Provisional Perspectives - A review of the roundtable event held on May 3-4 2007 - Dr Brenda Boardman, University of Oxford
UKERC Meeting Place Workshop: Tesco/UKERC Carbon Labelling Symposium - 18 May 2007
- Presentation to the Food Climate Research Network: From plough to plate to bin and beyond: reducing the food chain's role in greenhouse gas emissions 31 January 2005
Conference papers
- Darby , S. (2007) Enough is as good as a feast – sufficiency as policy In Proceedings, European Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy 2007 Summer Study, France
- White, R. (2007) Carbon governance from a systems perspective: an investigation of food production and consumption in the UK Proceedings, European Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy 2007 Summer Study, France