Lack of communication between policy makers in Europe and the United States means the extent of the changes needed to mitigate dangerous climate change are being “vastly” underestimated.
This is the conclusion of a
University of Manchester scientist who has developed a piece of software that enables government departments, NGOs and other authorities, to calculate
CO2 emissions reductions. The software – called ‘
GRIP’ – blends in real time, different quantities and types of energy consumed with economy size, population and general behaviour to illustrate the effects of different scenarios on
CO2 emissions.
Dr Sebastian Carney, who has worked with authorities in England, Scotland and California, says national and local politicians, council officers,
policy makers and NGOs – among others – are working in ‘silos’, resulting in significant differences in their approaches to CO2 emissions.
The United Nation’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the European Commission both say a CO2 reduction of at least 80 per cent on 1990 emission levels by 2050 will be required to limit the average global temperature rise to two degrees Centigrade.
But according to Dr Carney, governments do not realise the extent of the work needed to achieve the 80 per cent figure. He said: “Because they have not played with their own numbers, policy makers just don’t realise the scale of the changes needed to deliver the reductions required.
“When it becomes evident that policy makers, and
energy planners are vastly underestimating the scale of the problem, the universal reaction is one of shock.
“In most cases, they have never sat down and quantified their energy futures in terms of changes in CO2,” said Dr Carney, who is based at University’s Centre for Urban Regional Ecology.
Dr Carney is scientific advisor on a project called EUCO2, which devises low carbon urban strategies for cities in Spain, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, France, Slovakia, Italy, Portugal and the UK.
He said: “Joined up thinking is vital if we are going to deliver the necessary reductions in emissions.”
Related news:CO2 emissions reduction newsGreen policy newsRelated sites:www.grip.org.uk www.euco2.orgwww.sed.manchester.ac.uk