Transcript No Polar Bear - due to Climate Change? [BUT it`s not just about

Carbon
Reduction
Commitment
Sarah Lee
Project Officer
EAUC-Scotland
David Somervell
Sustainability Adviser
University of Edinburgh
www.eauc.org.uk/scotland
Climate Change by Numbers 1
• 2008 level of CO2 in atmosphere:
385 parts per million (ppm)
• Annual rate of increase: 2ppm
• Stabilisation level if industrialised
nations follow Bush’s climate plan:
615ppm
• Resulting temperature increase
from pre-industrial levels : 4.5-6ºC
Climate Change by Numbers 2
• IEA estimate of US emissions
increase 1990 to 2025: 38%
• Temperature increase from preindustrial levels at which
"catastrophic effects" occur: 1.7ºC
• Stabilisation level needed to avoid
"catastrophic effects," according to
climate scientist Dr James Hansen:
350ppm
Climate Change by Numbers 3
• UN estimate industrialised countries'
emission cuts needed by 2020 to
avoid "dangerous" CC: 25-40%
• UN estimates industrial countries'
cuts needed by 2050: 80-95%
• Temperature increase at which UN
warns 40-70% of species will be at
increased risk of extinction: 4.2ºC
The CRC … coming down the track
• Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
propose a “Carbon Reduction Commitment” (CRC).
• It will obligate most Universities and Colleges and
aims to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions
• From April 2010
anyone with a
half-hourly meter
will be required to
register their
supply points
Ed Milliband, DECC Minister
CRC fills DECC’s policy “gap”
CRC
EU ETS
Who is
caught?
• If you use 6 million+ kWh/year (£600,000+ costs)
you’ll have to join in a giant money-go-round
• Environment Agencies will contact all UK billing
addresses with half-hourly electricity meters in 2009
• If you receive one of these letters, you must provide
data on half-hourly electricity consumption in 2008
• This will determine if you will have to participate in
the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).
… YOU!
How do we solve the problem?
Solocov’s 7 Wedges
What needs done?
And lots more … !
CRC in summary
• New, and legally binding under UK Climate Change
Act, it cover large private and public sector bodies
• Embracing around 5,000 organisations in UK
… using >6 million kWh electricity / £1m cost / yr
• Early Action Metrics:
- Carbon Trust Standard (CTS)
- Automatic Meter Reading (AMR)
• Cap and Trade scheme with reducing allowances
Offsets: fundamentally a scam
The one-stop shop promoting
sustainability in the FHE sector
www.eauc.org.uk/scotland
Andrew Chamberlain, EAUC-Scotland Manager
Sarah Lee, EAUC-Scotland Officer