Clair Gough

Controlling persistent organic pollutants-what next?

Within the context of current international initiatives on the control of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), an overview is given of the scientific knowledge relating to POP sources, emissions, transport, fate and effects. At the regional scale, improvements in mass balance models for well-characterised POPs are resulting in an ability to estimate their environmental concentrations with sufficient accuracy to be of help for some regulatory purposes. The relevance of the parameters used to define POPs within these international initiatives is considered with an emphasis on mechanisms for adding new substances to the initial lists. A tiered approach is proposed for screening the large number of untested chemical substances according to their long-range transport potential, persistence and bioaccumulative potential prior to more detailed risk assessments. The importance of testing candidate POPs for chronic toxicity (i.e. for immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption and carcinogenicity) is emphasised as is a need for the further development of relevant SAR (structure activity relationship) models and in vitro and in vivo tests for these effects. Where there is a high level of uncertainty at the risk assessment stage, decision-makers may have to rely on expert judgement and weight-of-evidence, taking into account the precautionary principle and the views of relevant stake-holders. Close co-operation between the various international initiatives on POPs will be required to ensure that assessment criteria and procedures are as compatible as possible.

The respectable politics of climate change: the epistemic communities and NGOs

Climate change is unusual compared with most environmental issues in the extent to which it has become accepted among orthodox policy institutions and public-and private-sector organizations. The authors explore the conditions that have led to the establishment of an epistemic community that brings together a broad array of actors, including the various NGOs, and the operational dimensions that define the participation of NGOs within the community. An epistemic community does not imply conformity of opinion or approach but allows for differentiation in terms of how its members construct the problem, and their objectives, core beliefs and favoured responses to climate change. Three broad styles of engagement through which NGOs contribute to this debate are identified: developing creative policy solutions, knowledge construction, and lobbying or campaigning. It should be noted that the authors refer primarily to development or environmental NGOs (ENGOs), though they do discuss business NGOs at a few points.

Burying Carbon Under the Sea: an initial exploration of public opinions

Geological and ocean sequestration of carbon dioxide is a potential climate change mitigation option that is currently receiving an increasing level of attention within business, academic and policy communities. This paper presents a preliminary investigation of possible public reaction to the technologies under consideration. Using a focus group approach, we consider the similarities between carbon storage technologies and analogous technologies that have generated strong reactions with the public. Initial results suggest that, in principle, carbon capture and storage may be seen as an acceptable approach as a bridging policy while other options are developed. However, concerns were raised regarding the safety of storage and trust in the ability of the various institutions to oversee the process in the long term. This analysis forms part of an on-going study which will continue to investigate the perceptions of a range of stakeholders.

State of the art in carbon dioxide capture and storage in the UK: An experts' review

Abstract This paper presents results from the first round of an extensive on-line Delphi survey of experts in the field of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS). Questions related to key drivers of energy technology in the UK, capture and engineering, CO 2 transport, storage, risks and leakage, monitoring and remediation, costs and economics, incentives, regulation, international context. The survey has constructed a comprehensive picture of expert opinion on the current status of CCS in the UK from across the CCS and related energy supply community. The results contribute to understanding how large-scale deployment of CCS might be realised in the UK and the challenges associated therein. The survey revealed that key barriers to implementation of CCS are currently a lack of long-term policy framework in the UK and costs. There remain aspects of the process that require further investigation but until the technology is adopted on a commercial scale, in the context of a commitment to significant reductions in CO 2 emissions across all demand sectors, it is neither possible nor appropriate to predict the details of how the process will evolve.

Integrated Assessment: an emerging methodology for complex issues

Over recent years Integrated Assessment (IA) has been presented as a new and innovative approach to modern decision making. In this paper we explore some of the key features that we consider characterise IA; we present IA as a framework that allows a flexible approach to uncertainty in decision making and to which a broad palette of expertise can contribute. The example of the development of an international agreement to reduce acidic deposition is used to illustrate the current practical status of an IA. The scientific process leading to this agreement has previously been described as IA but we argue that, although it marks a change from traditional approaches, further progress is still required to satisfy the requirements for a successful and durable IA.

Computers, citizens and climate change: the art of communicating technical issues

Integrated assessment (IA) is emerging as an approach that is suitable for accommodating the uncertainties and complexities of issues such as climate change, sustainability and lifestyles. With the aim of exploring participatory methodologies within the context of IA, a number of in-depth groups have been conducted in Venice, as part of an EC-funded project called ULYSSES (Urban Lifestyles, Sustainability and Integrated Environmental Assessment). This paper focuses on how technical issues were conveyed to a lay audience through the use of information and communication technology (ICT), namely integrated assessment models. The issues of urban lifestyles and sustainability, particularly in relation to climate change, formed the focus of discussion, the use of ICT being explored during the sessions. We illustrate our major findings with quotations from the participants of the indepth groups, concluding with specifications for new interactive modelling tools to be used in the context of participatory processes.

Environmentally targeted objectives for reducing acidification in Europe

Abstract Integrated assessment modelling has been employed as a tool for deriving cost-effective strategies based on critical loads for the reduction of acidifying pollutants in Europe. Current negotiations towards a second European Sulphur Protocol, coordinated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, have identified the need for additional deposition targets as an intermediate step to achieving critical loads. Different applications of integrated modelling techniques are described, with particular emphasis on the definition of intermediate targets. These may be fixed externally to the model, or may be variable and incorporated within the optimization model. A dynamic approach to deposition targeting was shown to offer the greatest level of overall environmental protection for a given cost. However, differences between the various targeted approaches are small relative to the alternative of following an untargeted approach, a result which illustrates the flexibility of integrated assessment modelling as a useful policy tool.

Importance of non-CO2 emissions in carbon management

Background: GHG budgets highlight a need for urgency, yet analyses are often CO2-focused, with less attention paid to non-CO2. Results: In this paper, scenarios are used to explore non-CO2 drivers and barriers to their mitigation, drawing out implications for CO2 management. Results suggest that even optimistic technological and consumption-related developments lead to on-going increases in global N2O, largely to improve food security within a changing climate. This contrasts with existing analysis, where lower levels of N2O by 2050 are projected. Conclusions: As avoiding ‘2ｰC’ limits the emissions budget, constraints on reducing non-CO2 add pressure to energy system decarbonization. Overlooking how a changing climate and rising consumption restricts efforts to curb non-CO2 will result in policies aiming to avoid 2ｰC falling short of the mark.

Prospects for the joint implementation of sulphur emission reductions in Europe

Joint implementation of sulphur emission reductions may offer parties to the 1994 Oslo Protocol on Further Reductions of Sulphur Emissions the opportunity to meet the obligations contained in the Protocol in a more flexible manner. Sulphur pollution in Europe is characterized by an important spatial dimension and this paper examines how this spatial dimension influences the design of a joint implementation system for sulphur emission reductions in Europe. An original example of a joint implementation system based around emission exchange rates is used to illustrate the difficulties of incorporating the spatial component into an emission exchange system. Simulations of possible transactions support the finding that there is likely to be a trade off between the scope for cost savings and the level of environmental protection offered by joint implementation of sulphur emission reductions in Europe. The paper suggests that a joint implementation system where countries negotiate each transaction on a case by case basis is more likely to be acceptable to all parties to the protocol. This approach offers the greatest flexibility of meeting the interests of the two trading countries and third party nations who may be affected by the transaction. However, it is concluded that the long-term environmental objectives of the protocol and the administrative complexity of such a system may limit the scope for joint implementation of sulphur emission reductions in Europe.

Consumer responses to a future UK food system

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe research exploring consumer responses to potential changes in food-related practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Design/methodology/approach – Six focus groups explored consumer responses to measures to intended to mitigate the emissions from, and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These included: meat reduction, greater reliance on seasonal British food, meal replacement tablets, laboratory grown meat, communal eating houses, genetically modified food and food waste. Practice theory provided the lens to interpret the changes to meanings, competences and materials associated with food consumption. Findings – Changes that could be assimilated within existing competencies were viewed more positively, with lack of competence a key barrier to accommodating change. At present, climate change and sustainability do not influence purchasing decisions. Policy measures delivering multiple benefits (“win-wins”), of which environmental performance m...