Countries report in different ways against different climate change targets, making both cross-country and within-country comparisons difficult. This report describes the key differences between greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting frameworks underlying international and domestic national climate change targets and reporting. The analysis uses examples from Ireland, France, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Norway, New Zealand and Mexico.

The report clarifies how countries with national climate change targets account for progress towards these targets, relative to their internationally reported GHG inventories.

The analysis show that there is substantial convergence on the use of comparable accounting methods, driven by UNFCCC reporting. It appears that the same underlying GHG data is typically adapted for accounting against different targets. UNFCCC accounting (plus, for most developed countries, KP accounting) provides the core comprehensive dataset, from which elements can be removed or recalculated as required. The fact that UNFCCC accounting is highly standardised for developed countries ensures a high degree of consistency, whereas more variation is to be expected from developing countries.

The research has been based on a desk review of relevant documentation from each country, carried out in November 2017.

Further research in spring 2018 compares greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for leading climate change jurisdictions.  

There are a number of methods available for appraising adaptation decisions. This project introduces the concept of adaptation economics and reviews traditional and emerging analysis techniques, and gives examples of how they can be used.

Looking at how to do robust cost/benefit analysis is important in relation to adaptation policies, for example in making decisions about how to implement policies and proposals in the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (currently out for consultation). The analysis needs to take into account the considerable uncertainties relating to climate change.

Traditional economic approaches have limitations in how they measure cost/benefit of adaptation action.

Emerging techniques may be better suited to measuring the costs and benefits of adaptation, helping to:

  • prioritise action with limited resources
  • understand the consequences and costs of not adapting;
  • avoid over- and under-spend in adaptation; and
  • plan the best approach that also leaves options available in future.

The ASCEND workshop brought together policy, business, research and other communities to discuss the challenges of whole energy systems analysis and decision-making across scales, and identify opportunities for improved analysis and strategy.

Participants first looked at the energy system as a whole, including:

  • model-linking across scales,
  • system integration across vectors,
  • good practice in scenario design; and
  • dealing with uncertainty in decision-making.

The afternoon focused on cross-scale analysis and strategy in the heat sector, looking at issues such as

  • linking national strategy with local master-planning,
  • iterating between long-term whole system pathways and emerging demonstration and pilot studies; and
  • how to represent new policy drivers (industrial strategy, local economic impacts, equity and affordability) in whole systems analysis.

The event, held at ECCI in November 2017, formed part of the ‘Ascend’ scoping project, supported by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Science Research Council) and Energy Systems Catapult. The project involves the universities of Birmingham, Leeds and Edinburgh, and University College London. The workshop showcased emerging findings from project researchers and others.

For more information, please contact Dr Mark Winskel at the University of Edinburgh.

The Scottish Government has set very ambitious targets and policies in its Climate Change Plan to decarbonise the energy system. The Scottish TIMES model is as a key tool informing these new climate change policies.

TIMES is a well-known, widely used model. However, the adequacy of TIMES for energy efficiency policy analysis has not been assessed in the literature. This report sets out the potential for using TIMES to understand the system impacts of energy efficiency improvements.

The main challenges identified in the specific context of using TIMES for energy efficiency analysis are:

  • Energy efficiency implementation in TIMES is not straightforward. Several approaches could be followed, delivering potentially different results.
  • Decisions are cost driven. The cost minimisation algorithm would lead to outcomes involving extreme specialisation (corner solutions), if not prevented by user determined constraints (e.g. imposing maximum shares for different technologies).
  • Energy demands and actions and reactions across the wider economy impacts are not modelled within TIMES. More generally, market “problems” and other drivers for consumer behaviour are not captured.

From a policy analysis perspective, TIMES is a very powerful tool that could be used to support decision making. Therefore, building on the model’s strengths, the report discusses possible TIMES uses and ways to go forward, grouped as:

  • using TIMES as it is;
  • developing TIMES improvements; and
  • soft-linking with other models.

This research reviews the actions being taken by some countries and regions, aspiring to leadership on tackling climate change, and how they are dealing with the challenges of meeting ambitious climate goals.

The analysis focuses on national greenhouse gas (GHG) targets, sectoral targets, legislation, the role of carbon trading and offsetting, and the achievability of targets in some European countries (EU and non-EU), Mexico and two US states.

Reflecting on the European case studies produced by ClimateXChange, the research also considers the common themes for success in setting ambitious and aspirational climate change policy.

Key findings from the research include:

  • Ambitious targets are being set by a range of countries across Europe (in and out of EU), and elsewhere. These include overall and sectoral GHG targets. States and regions are also raising the bar.
  • Targets vary according to starting point, political situation and culture.
  • The influence of international agreements and blocs, including the Paris Agreement and EU, have been critical to stimulating action. Despite this, countries and regions outside blocs (Norway and Mexico) have set and are meeting stretching targets, and regions (such as US states) are retained their commitments despite national policy vacuums.
  • Many targets are proving difficult to meet. This shouldn’t deter from high ambition. As the economic, business and social benefits become increasingly apparent, countries and regions which embark on decarbonisation pathways will save money in the long term, deliver a more resilient society to their citizens and show businesses the policy certainty they need to make long term investments in low and zero-carbon infrastructure.
  • A number of countries have stated the intention to trade international credits to meet their targets and have the legal flexibility to do so.
  • However, of concern, the EU has stated that meeting targets is dependent on the continued action of others.

This event considered how we might determine whether policy is effective, efficient and equitable, and also how evidence is considered in the policy development process.

Mark Winskel and Niall Kerr introduced the ClimateXChange project ‘Policy Effectiveness in Energy Policy’, and Jan Rosenow and Paul Cairney presented on the policy making process, understanding policy effectiveness and the role of evidence and experts.

The event was organised with the Energy and Society group at the University of Edinburgh.

The ClimateXChange Wind Farm Impacts Study, published in July 2015, made a number of recommendations for developing better guidance on predicting and limiting the impact of wind farm developments. How noise impacts from wind farms are considered in the planning process in Scotland was raised in this Study.

As well as looking at wind turbines, this follow-on study considered the assessment of noise impacts for hydro schemes and air source heat pumps including the guidance and standards these impacts are judged against. The study findings will feed in to Scottish Government thinking on how noise impacts from renewable technologies are considered through the planning process, and potentially inform future guidance for developers and planning authorities.

The study made the following recommendations:

  • Greater sharing of information via a community of practice focused on wind energy noise issues for EHO and planning officers.
  • Preparation of a lay person’s guide for non-noise specialists to facilitate communication of noise issues in relation to renewable energy. 

The study also identified a number of recommendations for further research which include:

  • An in depth review of the methodology within ETSU-R-97 and the IOA Good Practice Guide to identify areas where additional detail on interpretation would be required from a planning authority perspective, drawing specifically on the experience of stakeholders.
  • Investigation of the value of a detailed local policy framework through a workshop event or similar for environmental health officers and planners. This would provide a forum for structured discussion and sharing good practice on noise policies and in particular, supplementary guidance. This could cover the scope, wording and potential for locally specific limits within policy and guidance. The outcome of this event could be recorded in a summary report to provide a reference source for local authorities addressing noise issues.
  • A more detailed investigation of a sample of noise related complaints regarding wind farm developments would allow further conclusions to be drawn on ETSU limits and the nature and occurrence of noise related complaints.

Monitoring and evaluating (M&E) is a central part of assessing the effectiveness of our efforts to tackle climate change. Scotland (and the wider UK) was one of the pioneering countries in the development of an adaptation M&E framework, and is one of a handful of countries that have a system that is fully operationalised.

Our aim is to set out principles for metrics that better answer questions regarding whether Scotland is adapting to the impacts of climate change, and whether resilience is increasing and opportunities are being realised.

The research has looked at areas of strength and areas needing improvement and how to integrate this M&E approach into the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (SCCAP) using an outcomes focus. 

Read the Adaptation Sub-Committee’s advice on using an outcome focus in the SCCAP

Read more about the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme

The Scottish Government published its draft Energy Strategy in January 2017. The draft Strategy is Scotland’s first overarching, system­‐wide strategy for energy.

In the draft, the Scottish Government has committed to consultation, engagement and deliberation with consumers and communities about their energy future.

Evidence about Scottish public values and attitudes towards energy system transformation is essential to inform the development of those engagement processes. To that end, this report provides a summary of the current evidence.

The research draws on current thinking on public engagement with science and technology issues and a survey from the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) on Public Values for Whole Energy System Change.

Public engagement on energy systems workshop

The research findings was discussed at a workshop looking at options for public engagement on energy policy. Download slides or watch the presentations, or look through the workshop exercises on the links below.

Slides:
Christina Demski & Nick Pidgeon: Public engagement with energy system change in Scotland
Kat White: Draft energy strategy
Helen Pallett: Systematic mapping of UK public engagement with energy: findings

Filmed presentations:
Christina Demski & Nick Pidgeon: Public engagement with energy system change in Scotland
Kat White: Draft energy strategy

Workshop exercises:
Exercise 1: What is happening already?
Exercise 2: Modes of engagement

Workshop notes:
Conclusions from the workshop