British Academy
Energy and the environment
In autumn 2015 the British Academy explored energy and the environment. As well as holding four public events the Academy also undertook some original research and policy activities on this topic. Below you can find out more information about British Academy activities on this topic.
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Summary booklet
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Energy and the environment: what's the challenge?
How worried are you, or should you be, about an energy crisis? What are the challenges of meeting future demands for energy, particularly from a rapidly growing and urban population? What would it take for you to change your energy consumption behaviour?
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Energy and ethics:what are the costs to future generations in an unequal world?
How much are you prepared to pay for energy? Not just in terms of money now, but also the cost to other nations, future generations and the environment? Would you be prepared to join forces with your community to generate or access energy?
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More liveable, less polluted - how can we change the rapidly growing cities of the world?
How do we design and build energy efficient, affordable communitites that are accessible to all? What steps do policy makers need to take to ensure that this happens?
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Future energy provision: how can the world understand, anticipate and collaborate?
Join British Academy President Lord Stern to discuss whether we can ever get energy companies, financial institutions and other corporations to change their behaviour and attitudes regarding energy. Who holds the key to change, and what should they be doing?
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Built for living
Dr Natasha McCarthy, Head of Policy at the British Academy, discusses this Royal Academy of Engineering published report and the need for disciplines to work together to improve built environmental systems.
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EU-China partnerships on climate change - are they effective?
Professor David Gibbs, Professor of Human Geography at University of Hull, looks at the benefits of a partnership between the EU and China in addressing climate change.
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Shell can't afford to wait until 2050 to adapt its business to climate change
Professor Steffen Bohm, Professor in Management and Sustainability, and Director of the Essex Sustainability Institute at University of Essex, explores Shell's current investment practices.
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Keep it in the ground
If we want to avoid dangerous levels of global warming, then at least two-thirds of proven fossil fuel reserves need to be left in the ground. Removing capital invested in fossil fuel companies is one way of working towards this - but is it an effective method? In partnership with the Guardian.
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Community energy generation
Running in parallel to the British Academy Debates on Energy and the Environment, the British Academy is drawing upon the expertise of its fellowship and disciplines to better understand the complexities around energy policy in the UK and internationally. Through a series of activities – including original research, surveys, policy engagement and publications – the Academy will examine the cultures, meanings, ideas, values and language that shape energy policy and encourage or constrain the kinds of solutions we develop.
