Opportunities & Challenges
Remit:
- Looking at issues of transition from carbon to low carbon technologies and what this could mean for businesses, employment and education.
- Carry out a critical review of the consequences of moving from a hydrocarbon fuelled based society to one of renewables.
- Looking at the opportunities that will arise from new technologies and how educational and professional organisations will facilitate this.
- Investigate what work is already being done on skills gaps.
- Look at what changes will be required for infrastructure and how such potentially huge changes should be funded – liaise with funding group on this issue.
Projects being undertaken by the Opportunities & Challenges Sub-group in 2013
- Finding new Heroes: Climate change requires market driven solutions that make economic sense. Entrepreneurs, with the classic definition, are perfectly placed to recognise and pursue such opportunities. This project explores entrepreneurs as the new heroes tackling climate change. 20 video case studies on entrepreneurs who have made, or are on a journey to making, an impact in energy and the low carbon markets will be developed and produced. Each video being a short lesson (55 second ‘teaser’ plus 10 minute detail) within a structured set of 20 topics on “how to build a globally successful business”. Therefore not just a ‘celebration’ and showcase resource, but an educational tool.
- Unconventional Gas: The subgroup will build on the learning gained from the workshop last year and bring together resources that can be used to inform public debate, particularly in providing a balanced view. This will include providing the correct terminology and working on public messaging, as well as providing information on the consequences for climate change. The subgroup will also investigate the potential to form a Trade Body.
Progress Update
In 2012, the Opportunities and Challenges Subgroup held a unconventional gas workshop which discussed the implications of coal bed methane and shale gas on Scotland’s energy security, energy mix and low carbon transition. The opportunity for the energy and Petrochemical Industries are material. Unconventional gas will affect both industries ( global markets) irrespective of if/how Scotland becomes involved. The areas of concern raised in the workshop were:
- Changes to the level and duration of domestic hydrocarbons may change the economics and available choices regarding future energy mix.
- May decelerate renewable deployment.
- Impacts on Scotland’s strategic interests, such as climate change negotiating positions, macro economic conditions and energy and food prices.
