wholeSEM Public Lecture: 'What should the UK's climate targets be in the post-Paris Agreement era?'

The United Kingdom was the first country to sign binding emissions reduction targets into law in 2008, and has been a strong proponent of global action on climate change for the last decade. However, despite being an early pioneer in developing the legislative framework for deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the UK has faced a number of challenges in implementing its energy and climate vision. The Paris Agreement, ratified in 2016, is the long hoped-for global deal on emissions mitigation, and sets out the international framework for deep decarbonisation of the global energy system by the end of the century. Wealthy industrialised countries are expected to contribute more to this effort under the principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibilities". At a time when the UK is seeking a new relationship with its international partners and the rest of the world at large, we ask the question: what should the UK's climate targets be in the post-Paris Agreement era? Building on research published in Nature Energy, the authors will highlight the scale of the challenge, and give their insights into the some of the complex political, social, technological, economic, moral, and legal issues that this question poses.

This free public event hosted by the UCL Energy Institute and wholeSEM will be held in Central House room G01 with a post event drinks reception - registration is required as spaces are limited.

Agenda

16.30: Registration Opens
17.00: Welcome and Introduction - Neil Strachan, wholeSEM
17.05: Presentation - Steve Pye and Francis Li, UCL Energy Institute
17.30: Panel Discussion
17:45: Q+A
18:15: Drinks Reception

About wholeSEM

The whole systems energy modelling consortium (wholeSEM) is a ground breaking, multi-institution initiative funded by EPSRC to develop, integrate and apply state-of-the-art energy models.

The consortium will employ extensive integration mechanisms to link and apply interdisciplinary models to key energy policy problems, with substantive bilateral engagement with stakeholders in academia, government and industry. The consortium is led by University College London and consists of Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge and the University of Surrey.

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