1. Overview of the Climate and Energy Team’s recent work
Jenny Banks
17 September 2018
Climate & Energy Team in 2014

2. Economics and defending the Climate Change Act
 Climate Change Act – austerity/recession – heavy scrutiny of costs and impact on economy
Joint statement - Announcement on 4th carbon budget mentioned ‘business voices’ impact on the decision
Two reports looking at economics of climate change – May - Misunderstanding Climate Policy – Guardian blog, FT blog, quoted in New Climate Economy Report.
September – Economics of Climate Change Policy in the UK – ongoing meetings with politicians on this report. Including Danny Alexander.
EU Climate and Energy Package – binding GHG target (40%). Non binding EU and Renewables targets (both 27%), interconnection target.
17 September 2018
Climate & Energy Team in 2014

3. Energy efficiency and heat
Energy efficiency and demand reduction – built into pretty much all our team’s communication on energy
Disappointment on the EU 2030 package - no binding target (same for renewables) – UK gov resistance
Making energy efficiency a National Infrastructure Priority – Labour have picked this up and Lib Dem manifesto is strong on energy efficiency
Infrastructure bill – Zero Carbon Homes standards – WWF part of coalition lobbying against watered down standards for new build homes – Zoe’s blog got 600 hits
Zoe gave evidence to a parliamentary enquiry on electricity demand reduction – drawing on a WWF report on this from 2013 and my work on the capacity market
17 September 2018
Climate & Energy Team in 2014

4. Decarbonising UK electricity
Shift from a focus on shale gas to a focus on phasing out coal. Coal = twice emissions of gas.
UK – old power stations. Need investment to keep running. Huge opportunity to get rid of coal in the UK.
2014 and 2015 are key years on the future of coal. Owners must make a decision by end of 2015 whether to commit to closing or life extending
Engaging with all energy companies on this.
Lib Dems have already committed to closing coal by Cameron sort of committed to phasing out coal. Labour…
Marine renewables – policy position paper – challenging to balance marine environment concerns with need for renewables
17 September 2018
Climate & Energy Team in 2014

5. Climate & Energy Team in 2014
17 September 2018
Climate & Energy Team in 2014