Parties and politicians are making key manifesto decisions. Getting them right as the political and meteorological temperature rises is crucial for the economy, net-zero emissions, and UK exports. Westminster and Whitehall take note – Northwest green technology has answers for all three.
When voters vote on Thursday, 4th July 2024, their complex choices must include facing down a raging environmental crisis that left unchecked will create damage equivalent to a permanent war by 2100, new studies predict.
As the energy, security, and financial challenges continue, it is essential to understand that rapidly accelerating climate change is now a top economic, and social priority for politicians of every party.
The disturbing news is that researchers now predict temperatures could rise by up to 30C this century; ancient trees show that 2023 was the hottest year in 2,000 years.
Reasons to be more cheerful
However, the more positive headline is that some 30% of global energy now comes from renewable sources.
After news of other key developments, we look more closely at these disturbing and encouraging factors – important in the immediate battle for net-zero and long-term sustainability – along with details of our new Destination Net Zero Mach II workshop series and B Academy launch.
We then close on a roll with some ‘inspiring green-tech gains’.
RedCAT – crossing ‘the Chasm’
Green-tech has many answers to the problems above, with the caveat that they must be supported and commercialised properly. A number of examples – with more to come – are being developed in Lancashire and could become part of an important regional, national, and international template.
Miranda Barker OBE, East Lancs Chamber and RedCAT Group CEO, is preparing an impressive Northwest low-carbon case for political leaders and civil servants to see urgently – again, see later!
Meanwhile, RedCAT Ventures MD Stuart Thompson is helping green-tech innovators make the often long, slow, frustrating, and costly commercialisation journey over ‘the Chasm’ into global markets, shorter, faster, and less painful.
Starting in June, he will look at some frequent commercialisation problems, why companies often find them hard to fix, plus the difference that RedCAT’s experience-based solutions are making.
Chamber Low Carbon
Also in June, we will be introducing new members of the expanded Chamber Low Carbon team who are helping Northwest companies and organisations to reduce their carbon footprints, move from fossil-fuel to renewable energy, raise energy-efficiency, and benefit from the circular economy.
– Destination Net Zero Mach II – The team will re-run our Destination Net Zero workshops that explain the difference between net-zero and carbon neutrality, how to identify and map greenhouse gas emissions, record activity data, calculate carbon footprints, and create and present carbon reduction plans. Check the Chamber Low Carbon website, or Contact Us for more information.
– B Academy – working in partnership with 2030hub (www.the2030hub.com) we will also be launching our B Academy, a new six half day programme combining peer-to-peer learning and onsite one-to-one support to take your company through the B Corp Certification process. Again, check the Chamber Low Carbon website for details and dates.
COP29, November, Azerbaijan – join us!
In a busy spring, Miranda, working on behalf of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) globally, also met members of the BCC Azerbaijan to help develop the BCC offer for business delegates to COP29 … and take a strong Northwest business contingent to the Baku climate summit in November.
Again, more detail below. However, to join the COP29 team which will build on 2023 successes at COP28 in Dubai, please contact Jamie Parker-Jervis at jp.jervis@redcatventures.co.uk.
The problems above – why it is important for the next government – and all of us – to act now
Hundreds of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate scientists surveyed by The Guardian think global temperatures will soar this century. Almost 80% forecast at least a 2.50C rise; circa half expect at least 30C. Only 6% believe the internationally agreed 1.50C limit will be met.
The 1.50C cut-off is not arbitrary. It is calculated as the point that could trigger a cascade of irreversible tipping points leading to further uncontrolled warming – a past example being the geologically sudden formation of the Sahara Desert above previously fertile land 5,000 to 11,000 years ago.
Many foresee a “semi-dystopian” future of famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms, with an intensity and frequency far greater than seen at present. However, every fraction of a degree saved counts in terms of human suffering,
As Peter Cox of the University of Exeter, explains, “Climate change will not suddenly become dangerous at 1.50C – it already is. And it will not be ‘game over’ if we pass 20C, which we might well do.” Clearly, there is work for governments, industry, and all of us to do.
30% and improving …
More than 30% of global electricity came from renewables in 2023 after a rapid rise in solar and wind power, according to climate think-tank Ember-Climate (https://ember-climate.org/).
Solar was the main source of 2023 electricity growth globally, doubling the rate for coal, and becoming the fastest-growing electricity generator for the 19th consecutive year – and largest source of new electricity for the second year running after overtaking wind.
Massive damage …
However, there is evidence in an as yet un-reviewed working paper that a 10C rise in average global temperatures causes a 12% fall in world GDP, far high than expected. (Source: National Bureau of Economic Research)
A 30C increase will mean “precipitous declines in output, capital and consumption that exceed 50% by 2100,” it warns, “… comparable to the economic damage caused by fighting a war domestically and permanently”.
All the points above add momentum to the case for green technical innovations as political and practical solutions humans can use to combat climate change.
Influencing policy levers
Miranda is compiling policy points she believes parties must include in their manifestos to help SMEs make meaningful progress towards net-zero.
Priorities include government funding needed urgently at scale to close the daunting Valley of Death commercialisation gap which stops many innovators from competing successfully in world markets.
Party policy-makers are also being told that “whole ecosystem support” from RedCAT experts embedded in companies – or available to innovators – closes the gap where other approaches notoriously fail.
They will also be given case studies showing how RedCAT is helping Lancashire companies to both create high-level green-tech for world markets potentially worth billions of export pounds, and evolve that tech into in country low-cost technologies needed urgently by developing nations to tackle climate challenges including those flagged by the UN.
COP29 … global solutions
As part of a continuous improvement curve, Miranda has analysed what made COP28 successful for the Chamber Low Carbon team and Northwest clean-tech companies at Dubai in December 2023, and how COP29 in November can be made even more commercially-rewarding.
In a presentation to British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) members, she explained that COP29 is a wide “UK plc” collaboration opportunity that could also pay dividend at COP30 in Brazil and beyond.
To date, the low-carbon team has waved the Northwest flag at three COPs in a ‘look, learn, and move on’ series. They started as a Lancashire audience travelling to Glasgow’s COP26 in 2021, became Blue Zone official UN accredited observers Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh COP27 in 2022, and then we took our own international trade delegation to seek commercial and climate influencing opportunities in the Blue and Green Zones at Dubai’s COP28.
COP29 … strategy leading to COP30
Key objectives at COP28 were to ‘connect & engage’, ‘influence’, ‘promote’, and ‘learn’ through strong networks and relationships, and more international collaboration, plus sharing knowledge thought-leadership ideas, R&D reports, and case study showcases with many top global players in one place to understand how the world plans to remove 10GT of carbon by 2050.
Lessons for COP29 are to “unite around & amplify key messages” and have “greater visibility on the ground” with a clear focus on two/three key clean-tech areas where UK plc can make a difference, plus a cross-stakeholder narrative that is broader than just UK Government’s, says Miranda.
That means presenting a clear collective sense of UK expertise, action and commitment to the world. The UK Blue Zone pavilion needs to be much bigger than the Government’s alone, ideally with an UK climate exhibition that projects UK expertise, success stories and capability.
COP29 … planning with Government
Earlier planning could bring in more parts of the Government. A climate leaders’ event and dinner could be a UK plc launch-pad, with structured networking, solution-focussed workshops /roundtables that involve industry, governmental, real economy actors working together. An online COP B2B Platform with a matchmaking portal connecting people and summary of side events.
Miranda adds, “We need to work with and encourage the next government to reaffirm our climate leadership and phase out of fossil fuels. We also need closer collaboration with DESNZ on programme of priorities where the private sector can support delivery of net zero. WE must also create a long-term connection between expert business and the UK COP negotiations team.”
Exeter and Cambridge
It is also important to mention that we will be working closely in our new Exeter and Cambridge University partnerships to understand the scientific baseline drivers of how and why to develop green-tech solutions and maximise our COP29 impact.
Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) is an interdisciplinary centre leading cutting-edge research into the problems of, and solutions for, environmental change (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/esi/).
The University of Cambridge brought together thought-leaders for COP28 to support a just energy transition and net-zero adaptation measures. This year the university will be working with us in preparations for COP29.
Inspiring green-tech gains
It is worth mentioning quickly several more recent up-beat points: –
– Clean growth – The UK’s net-zero economy grew by 9% in 2023, says a new Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) study. The Guardian adds: “Thousands of new green companies were founded in 2023 and overall the sector was responsible for the production of £74 billion in goods and services and 765,000 jobs across the county”.
– Solar geoengineering – Switzerland wants a global debate on whether a UN expert group should study the “risks, benefits and uncertainties” of dimming the sun by filling the atmosphere with particles that reflect some of sun’s heat and light into space, mimicking volcanic eruption that release sulphur dioxide particles. The aim is to gather information and assess risks.
– Generating 27GW of wave energy – A report from LUT University Finland says the UK should aim to install 27GW of wave energy by 2050 to reach net-zero. (https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1049/rpg2.12840).
– Cutting steel and concrete emissions – A solar energy absorber using quartz to trap heat reached 1050°C in tests and could help decarbonise steel and cement production.
Trees in space
Innovative Japanese scientists have also created a tiny timber satellite. The LignoSat probe to be launched on a US rocket this summer is made of magnolia wood, which in experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) was found to be stable and resistant to cracking.
Built by researchers at Kyoto University and the logging company Sumitomo Forestry, it will help to end metal use and the creation of tiny alumina particles which burn up on re-entry and float in the upper atmosphere for years.
Global innovation in action!
Featured News
13 September 2024
