Transcript Just Transition - Library

Money to burn?
Energy efficiency &
carbon reduction
union for professionals
The global climate is changing
Research over several decades, by thousands of scientists, provides the evidence
for a changing climate that is caused by emissions from human activity and leads
to significant global risks.
Since the first Conference of the Parties (COP) in 1995, greenhouse-gas (GHG)
emissions have risen by more than one-quarter and the atmospheric concentration
of these gases has increased steadily.
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that, in the
absence of fully committed and urgent action, climate change will have severe
and irreversible impacts across the world. The international commitment to keep
the increase in long-term average temperatures to below two degrees Celsius
(2°C), relative to pre-industrial levels, will require substantial and sustained
reductions in global emissions (International Energy Agency)
If global greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase at their current rate, average
temperatures are expected to rise by more than two degrees above preindustrial
levels by around the middle of this century, and by four degrees by the end of this
century.
Increases of two degrees or more will bring major challenges for public wellbeing and
the economy, and the risk of dangerous and irreversible impacts.
Expected impact on the environment
• Change in arctic and Antarctic ecosystems
• Changes in terrestrial ecosystems
• Change to seasonal timings
• Changes in marine and freshwater systems including fish stock and
migration
Expected impact on human beings
• Displacement and migration of entire populations
• Reduction in freshwater supply
• Food scarcity with impact on sourcing and supply chains
• Water-borne diseases
• DISASTERS: Resilience & recovery to disasters caused by earthquakes,
floods, droughts, hurricanes, and tsunamis have devastating impacts
on people, environments and economies.
In the UK, the most significant early
impacts of climate change are likely to be
increases in the frequency and severity of
extreme weather – heatwaves and flooding,
and possibly storms and drought.
Every time we burn gas, oil and coal (fossil fuels) to create energy sources, such as
electricity and petrol, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere.
Before the industrial revolution only a small amount of
fossil fuels were used by the population. The CO2 in the
world was evenly balanced through a natural carbon
cycle.
However, due to our constant and growing demand for
energy, the CO2 in the atmosphere has now increased to
unnatural levels, by more than 35%.
Visualising
This is New York City's daily carbon dioxide emissions as one-tonne spheres &
London’s daily carbon dioxide emissions (139 thousand tonnes would fill a
sphere 521 metres across)
Explore more at http://www.carbonvisuals.com/
Resources include carbon graphics of all UK government departments,
London hospitals and informative YouTube video clips
The governments goals on
Short term to reduce carbon
=
Energy Efficiency
reduction
Long term to reduce carbon
=
Move to renewable energy
UK carbon targets - greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 80% by 2050.
Energy efficiency will have to increase across all sectors to the extent that energy
use per capita is between a fifth and a half lower than it is today.
Saving money & reducing carbon @ home
Over 40% of all carbon emissions in the UK are from our
homes and things we do in our daily lives which make
up our individual carbon footprint.
We can all play a significant part in reducing this by
taking some simple actions.
Burning money @ work!
The energy wasted from a compressed air leak the size of a match head is responsible
for yearly CO2 emissions ………
…….. equal to the weight of
an elephant.
Office lights left on overnight use enough
energy in a year to heat a home for almost
5 months.
A photocopier left on standby overnight
wastes enough energy to make 30 cups of
tea.
Its not just hot air!
A chiller door left open for 30 minutes a
day wastes enough energy in a year to
power a lighthouse for nearly 4 days.
A 2 degree increase in office temperature creates
enough carbon in a year to fill a hot air balloon.
Air conditioning an office for 1 extra hour a
day uses enough energy in a month to
power a TV for over a year.
Using your mobile phone for one hour a
day for a year would produce 79kg of
CO2 (Ethical consumer & Good Electronics)
Money to burn?
In the UK there is an estimated £300 million opportunity in encouraging
employees to adopt greener behaviours, which would result in saving over
six million tonnes of carbon.
A 4kW motor turned off for an hour a day could save around £114 a year.
No cost / low cost from resource efficiency activities were estimated at a
total of around £23billion in 2009
Its more than just saving the planet
The Climate Change Act 2008: a legal obligation to annually report the UK’s
emissions that outlines an economically credible emissions reduction path
TARGET to
Cut UK
greenhouse
It places a restriction on the total amount of greenhouse gases the UK can
emit over a 5-year period. The UK is the first country to set legally binding
carbon budgets.
gas emissions
by at least
80% by 2050
Under a system of carbon budgets, every
tonne of greenhouse gases emitted
between now and 2050 will count. Where
emissions rise in one sector, the UK will
have to achieve corresponding falls in
another.
Devolved administrations
Same overall target with
regional ambitions, focus
and responsibilities
Scotland: Climate change
(Scotland) Act 2009
42% reduction in carbon by 2020
80% by 2050
N.Ireland: Climate change Bill
is in development
Wales: Environment (Wales) Bill
80% reduction in green house gases by
2050
The framework that enables change
2008 energy performance
certificates (EPCs) are required
whenever a building is built, sold or
rented
The Greening Government Commitment
(GGC) - target to reduce whole estate and
UK business transport emissions by 25% in
2014/15, extended to 2015/16, against a
2009/10 baseline
The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic
Report and Directors’ Reports)
Regulations 2013: Mandatory
corporate reporting: regulation in
June 2013 requires all quoted
companies to report on their Green
House Gas emissions in the annual
Directors’ Report
The Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme
(ESOS) Regulations 2014 mandate that all
large businesses in the UK undertake
comprehensive assessments of energy use
and energy efficiency opportunities at least
once every four years.
Compulsory energy audits
Before 5 December 2015 every
large enterprise in the UK will,
by law, have to undertake an
energy audit
Assessing energy efficiency in large enterprises could save £1.9
billion over 15 years – with good uptake this could realise £3 billion.
(Department of Energy & Climate Change)
Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) in detail:
https://www.gov.uk/energy-savings-opportunity-scheme-esos
Saving money
The ESOS energy audit must include recommendations for costeffective improvements in all energy consumption.
Examples given in the ESOS guidance include:
• Installing smart meters and energy measuring tools
• Changing vehicle and machinery service and maintenance
strategy
• Replacing business travel with video/web conferencing
• Capital investment projects
• Behaviour change projects
Just Transition: trade union position
The Just Transition concept represents our core values of defending workers in a changing
world. The core message is that no-one gets left behind.
Just Transition describes the move towards a low‐carbon and climate‐resilient economy that
maximises the benefits of climate action while minimising hardships for workers and their
communities. The call for a Just Transition includes:
•
Sound investments in low-emission and job-rich sectors and technologies;
•
Dialogue and democratic consultation of all front-line stakeholders;
•
Research and early assessment of employment impacts of climate policies; and
•
Training and skills development of the workforce to embrace change.
Member briefing - Workplace bargaining for a Just Transition
https://library.prospect.org.uk/id/2015/August/4/Bargaining-Just-Transition
Reducing carbon through energy efficiency
saves money AND helps the planet
Further information
Stay informed: Prospect ‘e’ network
[email protected]
Climate & Us: A website about the challenges
and opportunities presented by climate change
More about climate change: The UK’s
Meteorological Office climate change 4.35
minute video explains the details
Carbon Trust: Tools, guides & reports (including
statistics & graphics used in this presentation)