Greenprint 2020

By Callum Scott, Greenprint 2020 Steering Group member

The Earth’s climate is changing, that is an undisputable fact.  Whose fault it is frankly irrelevant, we need to look at every aspect of how we as a society extract, transport and consume natural resources.  One of the most hotly debated elements of this is to do with the way we generate electricity.  Ever since the industrial revolution we have become increasingly energy hungry in our day to day lives and some would say victims of our own success.  Not only does our infrastructure as whole need to adapt to become more resilient to deal with the extremes of Climate Change, it also has to be capable of generating clean electricity for the masses if we are to move away from being so reliant on the extraction of fossil fuels.

UK 2010 - Shares of net electricity supplied, by fuel input

Data supplied by DECC – DUKES Chapter 5: Electricity

One key thing to note is that every option for generating electricity there are pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses.  For instance, wind farms are a great example of how we can harness the natural environment for our own needs; doing this is not a new idea, however to do it on an industrial scale requires a huge amount of land, and some would argue, destroys the local landscape.  You could of course advocate the use of offshore wind turbines, but at a significant additional cost.  Nuclear on the other hand requires a comparatively small amount of land to generate vast amounts of electricity and isn’t reliant on local weather conditions.  Yet, the debate on how we deal with nuclear waste is a contentious one.  If we were to go down the route of wave power, our national grid needs to be completely redefined from centralised power plants to a network of remote satellites.  There isn’t a one fits all solution, local supply need only meet local demand and that should be met depending on local infrastructure, policy and climate.  

This leads me to perhaps challenge one of the Greenprint 2020 visions which suggests we should look to step up imports of renewable energy from abroad.  What I would challenge is why import, decreasing our energy independence, when we have the means to do it ourselves, creating jobs for a nation that has a tradition of engineering excellence?  Conversely, I would agree (with the 2020 vision) that in order to account for the intermittency of some renewable energies, the grid needs to be smart, whether that is to bring in reserves from energy storage devices such as hydroelectric dams or simply to syphon excess energy from neighbouring generation facilities.  Plenty to think about then.

It is easy to get caught up in the energy crisis and focus on where we are going to secure a clean, reliable source of energy but I would argue that our efforts equally need to be focused on how we consume electricity.  It is all very well designing high-tech, super efficient new-builds but what about our aging housing stock that simply leaks the energy that has undergone such a complex, lengthy and resource intensive process just to be lost through inefficiencies such as a lack of insulation.  That’s why Government incentives such as the ‘Green Deal’ will play such a fundamental role in reducing our dependency on energy consumption (see Paul’s blog), and also links nicely to one of the Greenprint 2020 visions by incentivising energy efficiency.  To win over more people to a more sustainable lifestyle the economic case needs to be as strong as the environmental.  Incentives should only be the ‘kick-start’ needed for the low-carbon industry to boom, even the Oil & Gas industry required enormous financial backing to bring to where it is today.  There are similarities, they just have different drivers.

Cartoon by Joel Pett, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, Cartoonists and Writers Syndicate, published on December 7, 2009 in USA TODAY

To conclude, I would like to leave you with this video which outlines, in a simplistic manner, our options for dealing with Climate Change.  In essence, the ‘do nothing’ option is not viable, whether fossil fuels run out or not is besides the point, we should be harnessing the very thing we are trying to protect.  Nature provides us with numerous options for tapping into an unlimited supply of energy, we just haven’t found the key (or combination of keys!) to unlock that potential.

Find out how you can take action and save energy today!

Greenprint 2020 interns respond to the August 2011 riots. Read the media coverage here.

Greenprint 2020 vision

In 2020: 

Tax has increased for two car households, which has led to an increase in car sharing schemes, pedestrianisation of some streets, and the allocation of cycling lanes as more people look for options other than driving. 

Cycling schemes are common place at work and in school, and with rewards for walking or cycling, it’s standard for people to walk distances of less than a mile. Roads are clearer and air quality is improved, lowering asthma rates.

People are able to jump on quicker, cleaner, faster trains from their local station thanks to the reopening of old stations and easier access routes. With major investments in alternative fuels, renewably powered public transport is abundant.

The census now collates green data on the routes people travel most, helping to direct public money to improving public services, extending routes, and trialling trams and new forms of transport. Where investments are made in new routes, the impact of construction is considered and recycled materials are used.

People are more appreciative of the impact of air travel. Due to a limit on air miles per person, people find other ways to commute, travel and holiday. They use technology to minimise use of travel for work and have found benefits to health and workload in doing so.

Your response* :

• 87% would like people to cycle and walk more for local travel. 

• 68% liked the idea of spending less time at work and increasingly working from home.  

• 57% of respondents disliked the suggestion of having limits placed on air mile

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1053 UK 16-24 year olds. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 17th January 2011.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 16-24. Copies of the research are available from Global Action Plan.

Please click “Next” to see the Learning & Work section, or “Previous” to see the Food section

(Source: globalactionplan.org.uk)

Greenprint 2020 vision

In 2020:

People live in homes that are built to the highest environmental standards, many of which will generate their own energy. Environmental design is flourishing with roof gardens a common sight in cities and towns. Most homes collect and reuse rainwater. Smart technology enables people to understand the environmental impact of their homes, and gives them the ability to remotely control the way their home operates.

Increasingly, retailers only stock products that meet high environmental and ethical standards. At the same time, unsustainable choices are increasingly costly and marginalised. Aspirations and values have shifted: sustainable living is now seen as the glamorous choice. Environmental knowledge is a powerful tool driving consumer decision making. 

People choose to do the right thing for the environment and are incentivised by rewards for reuse, recycling and efficient energy use. A growing number of people are joining together to create strong local community initiatives.

People lead healthier, more active lives. Healthcare policies support the most vulnerable populations. Medicine and drugs are more sustainably produced, the importance of maintaining biodiversity to develop new cures is realised, and plant and seed banks have been created for the production of preventative medicines. A growing number of policies are in place to curb the unsustainable growth of the world’s population.

Your response:

• 89% stated that they would like to see people living more sustainably.

• 72% want retailers to stock only products that meet high environmental standards.

• 84% would like homes to utilise natural resources such as rainwater.

• 61% of respondents would like to see policies in place to curb global population growth.

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1053 UK 16-24 year olds. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 17th January 2011.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 16-24. Copies of the research are available from Global Action Plan.

Please click “Next” to see the Power section

(Source: globalactionplan.org.uk)

By Sian Ryan

Environmental charity Global Action Plan recently conducted significant research into the green visions of 1,052 young people aged 16-24, revealing that young people are refreshingly optimistic about achieving a sustainable future. The question is whether the key decision makers of today are making the commitments required to make young people’s cleaner, brighter vision, a reality.

The government recently announced that they plan to commit Britain to a ‘legally binding’ target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% in 2050 and by 50% in 2025. To achieve this target we will need to see and increase in the production of electric cars and vans by 60% in the year 2030 and renewable energy should account for at least 15% of the total energy consumptions by the year 2020. This is certainly a step in the right direction, but it is by no means a battle won.

The announcement comes after an open letter was sent to David Cameron from 15 green organisations urging the government to make the right choice and commit to significant carbon reduction targets.  It seems that this prompting may have been an important factor leading the government to take stronger action on climate change. So, on the one hand it is greatly reassuring to know that the government is willing to listen to the advice of these organisations, but on the other begs the questions, why does a government which has declared itself as aspiring towards the title of “greenest government ever” need to be prompted to take action on climate change?

One of the biggest issues surrounding this announcement is that although the government is happy to tell us exactly where they want emissions to be by 2050, they have provided very little indication of how they intend to get to this point. The reductions are high and without robust plans, casts doubt on whether they are achievable as well as concern over exact tactics planned to implement the change. For example, Global Action Plan’s research explains that young people envision a future where UK energy suppliers use a diverse range of renewable energy. However, much of the speculation surrounding this announcement has stressed nuclear energy as the most likely option for Britain.

Nuclear power already accounts for 20% of the UK’s supplied electricity and it has been suggested that 3 more nuclear reactors may be built in the UK. Global action Plan’s research shows that young people are divided on this issue and as a result their position on the matter is neutral. However, if a strong shift towards this type of energy occurs we may find that the government is leading us down a path that many young people are uncomfortable with. Never the less we will have to face the consequences of the decisions made now.

On a positive note, the government plans have been seen by many as a significant step towards a growing green industry sector which was an ambition clearly laid out by young people in Global Action Plan’s research - many participants envisioned a future where the UK is a “leader in environmental technology, research and science and at the forefront of green innovation and solutions” and it seems that this is also the vision of many senior government ministers.

One of the most significant findings of Global Action Plan’s research is that young people are calling for stronger government leadership and the announcement implies we can have more faith in the government’s commitment to a greener future. However, I fear that that with vague plans of action, division in parliament and a government needs cattle prodding; there are no guarantees of this leadership after all. Further to this, there is talk of a get out clause if other EU countries do not match our targets… maybe they need reminding of the definition of leader, again. 
So we are left with high hopes surrounded in great uncertainty but what is clear, is that it is still imperative we, as young people, need to sing from the rooftops to make our voices heard, drawing on the support of groups like Global Action Plan and credible visions like Greenprint 2020.

Energy Secretary to reveal UK long-term carbon targethttp://www.ifandp.com/article/0011226.html 

Coalition commits Britain to legally binding emission cutshttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/14/historic-climate-change-deal-agreed-chris-huhne 

David Cameron in danger of breaking green pledge, warn green groupshttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/14/david-cameron-breaking-green-pledge 

Cameron intervenes to settle row over emissions targetshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13409404 

Committee on Climate Change - The Renewable Energy Review 9 May 2011http://www.theccc.org.uk/reports/renewable-energy-review 

Read how we think we can lead a sustainable life around home & life, learning & work, power, food, and travel…

(Source: globalactionplan.org.uk)