Newsletter – April 2013
April 2013
Professor Joe Lassiter Starts Off 2020 Lecture Series
Professor Joseph B Lassiter
The Inaugural lecture ‘The Challenges and Opportunities of Cleantech and New Technology’ launched the 2020’s group’s lecture series on January 9th, with Harvard Business School’s Professor Joseph Lassiter delivering the Keynote speech.
The series aims to foster relations between the private, public, voluntary and academic sectors in the sharing of information and a collective effort in meeting Scotland’s carbon targets.
Lassiter acknowledged Scotland’s renewable resources and urged the country to use them wisely in order to further the commitment to the reduction of carbon emissions. Comparing climate change to a ‘spinning roulette wheel’ he covered areas as diverse as nuclear power; subsidisation; shale gas; the imbalance of the world’s emissions outputs; and the politics of climate change.
The address was then followed by debate from a panel of speakers, chaired by Dr Andy Kerr of the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation. Sitting on the panel were 2020’s Chair Ian Marchant; Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney MSP; Charles Hammond, CEO of Forth Ports; and Associate Dean, Degree Programmes and Careers Services at London Business School, Wendy Alexander, who then went on to tackle questions from the audience. Watch out for the second lecture in our lecture series coming in the Autumn.
13 for ’13 Priorities Announced
2020 have announced their 13 for 2013 key objectives which they will be taking forward this year. Each priority aims to break down a barrier or create an opportunity in reducing carbon emissions.
Transport Challenge Initiated
The 2020 Group has begun their Transport Challenge in a bid to provide leadership to organisations in the highly important area of transport. The Transport Sub Group has developed four practical projects forming the challenge which organisations are open to engage with. The areas of action are the promotion of the uptake of electric vehicles; the understanding of cultural barriers to the uptake of virtual meeting technology; increase in the use of public transport; and the increase in the uptake of fuel efficient driving. Members of the Transport Sub Group will support organisations that take up any of the aims of the initiatives, and work with them on implementation, measurement, and reporting back to the 2020 Group.
Terri Vogt, Chair of the Transport Sub Group and Director of Connect3 Consultants comments:
“These projects are an opportunity for 2020 Group members and their partners to demonstrate leadership and to understand the business opportunities and challenges associated with this. Wide spread uptake of these activities will be essential to Scotland meeting our 2020 transport targets and I would encourage organisations to support these projects in any way they can.”
Impact Report Launched
The Inaugural Lecture on the 9th of January not only saw the launch of the 2020’s lecture series but so too of its Impact Report for 2012. Overall the report demonstrates the progress that has been made in 2012. Some of the initiatives and actions undertaken by the 2020 Group and its partners are detailed in the document, such as the development of the Envirowheel and the launch of the Waste Pledge; presenting an idea of the wide range of activities that the group has been involved with. The report also gives details about the ‘12 for 2012’ priority areas of the report, going on to discuss ’13 for 2013’ and the main issues that are concerned here.
The full Impact Report is available here »
Young People Urge 2020 Climate Group to be Brave and Bold in Tackling Climate Change
Research undertaken by Young Scot as commissioned by the 2020 Group has revealed the opinions of young people on climate change and the environment. A generational frustration was shown that young people see little progress on tackling climate change despite being educated about the need for this their whole lives. The young people involved in the research stressed the importance of being brave, looking for long-term solutions, and taking responsibility for your actions in the face of the challenges of climate change and building a low carbon economy.
In response to the presentation of the research, 2020 has launched a programme to take the issue forward. A number of initiatives have been committed to, which will have the views expressed by young people firmly in mind, and ensure that these opinions will continue to be heard and acted upon. Among these commitments are the creation of a 2050 climate group comprised of young people; and the convening of a Youth Climate Summit. The online publication of the ‘Big Green Map’ is also being investigated, with views to using this as an interactive resource.
More information available here »
Dr Rajendra Pachauri Meets with 2020 Group
On 26th February, 2020 Climate Group representatives met with the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Rajendra Pachuari to examine Scotland’s contribution to the fight against climate change. Dr Pachuari, was joined by the SEPA CEO James Curren and the Scottish Power Energy and Environment Director Gordon McGregor, who discussed, among other things, Scotland’s potential to contribute to technological development and innovation in tackling climate change; and the importance of changes in behaviours and business practice.
More information available here »
Green Deal Set In Motion
The government energy-efficient homes scheme officially got underway at the end of January. The Deal is an initiative involving the installation of energy-saving technology in homes and businesses, such as insulation and double glazing, with the costs beings paid off through energy bills.
Click here on how to get involved as a business »
RPP2 Draft Published
January 29th saw the Low Carbon Scotland Draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies published. The document sets out the means to achieving Scotland’s ambitious emission reduction targets, and is fully supported by the 2020 Group.
