Reports & policy briefs

The nexus of interdependencies between the water, energy and food (WEF) systems are multiple. The increasing pressure on all these systems has been described as the ‘perfect storm’; stresses and shocks in one system have potential knock-on effects on the others, with implications for life and its quality. A multi-disciplinary study – WEFWEBS – sought to explore, map and measure these relationships at multiple scales and in different places across the UK. Local Authorities can play a critical role in building awareness of the water-energy-food nexus regionally, and developing capacity and resilience to manage likely stresses and strains.

An introduction to the Food System Group at ECI. Our aim is to have a positive impact on food systems through collaborative initiatives, ranging from understanding the links between food security and global environmental change to creating new communities of food systems thinkers.

This report addresses the question: how and where is public participation in energy systems occurring in the West of England? Achieving deep and timely cuts to carbon emissions requires fundamental changes to the way society produces and consumes energy, and the active engagement and participation of citizens. 

Scenario building is just one tool to help us think about the future. The Zero Hunger, Zero Emissions project uses scenario building to ask questions about the future of Bangladesh, particularly in terms of climate change and food security. This issue of Climate Tribune explores the importance of scenario building, insights into the process, the scenarios that were developed by this project and how people reacted to them.

This protocol outlines the research design and methodological steps for a rapid review of evidence for the project Energy Publics. The aim is to gather up-to-date information about energy participation within the West of England.

A short report that describes a simple method for mapping ecosystem services based on scoring different types of land cover from 0 to 5, depending on their ability to supply different services. We applied this approach to the Bicester area, by adapting a matrix of land-cover scores generated from a study in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.

This guidance note presents evidence on the value of Bicester’s green spaces to local people, gathered through a public survey in summer 2017, using interviews, a focus group and an online app; and through a new online tool called ORVal that estimates the welfare value of green spaces for recreation anywhere in England.

Data from the Energy publics project final report.

In the Canadian Maritimes, coastal sea level rise, changing temperatures, and erratic weather impact the way food is produced, stored, distributed, and consumed. We asked 40 farmers, retailers, and other food system actors about the vulnerability of the Maritimes food system. Our research identifies key areas of intervention for governments and other institutions, from integrating local knowledge to inform adaptation action to switching to more sustainable and resilient practices. 

E-SPAS (Energie Sparen An Schulen) is an energy education program at primary schools in Emden, north western Germany. The objective is to raise awareness about energy efficiency and to convey practical know-how about energy saving in households.

A reports on decisions about theories of change and existing frameworks for assessment made through the IN-BEE project.

Tackling climate change presents both a profound challenge and opportunity to improve people’s lives and the environment. This report aims to promote discussion and provide practical ideas about how Oxfordshire can achieve both a fair and a fast transition to a low-carbon economy in a way that benefits local residents, reduces social divides and builds public support for action. With a foreword by Danny Dorling.

This report provides a policy framework to ensure that all energy use in all buildings in the whole UK results in zero carbon emissions by 2050. The study views the challenges from a people’s perspective – the roles of the property owner and the occupant – with the implications for energy supply one of the results. The emphasis on energy services, rather than energy purchases, shifts the debate on to demand reduction rather than energy supply and on to lower, not higher, bills. Investing in greater energy efficiency provides users with a better standard of living: a future-friendly property is one that it is warmer, more comfortable, healthier.

Home Truths reveals that not only is an 80 per cent cut in household emissions achievable, but it can be done in an equitable and fair way that wipes out fuel poverty and enables every UK citizen to live in a warm, comfortable home. The low-carbon house – the individual is warmer, has more hot water and can even have more appliances than now. Carbon emissions are cut, national energy security is increased and fuel poverty has disappeared. Market transformation is the strategic approach recommended, setting a long-term policy framework and recognises that combinations of policies are the most effective.

This presentation was given as part of a seminar on 26 April 1989 at No. 10 Downing Street to members of the Cabinet. Nick Eyre co-authored the presentation during his time at the Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU). The presentation discusses eight options for what the UK might do to mitigate carbon emissions: reforestation; burning waste; energy efficiency; alternative transport fuels; removal of carbon dioxide; renewable electricity; more nuclear power; and alternative fossil fuel generation.