DELIVERING A LOW CARBON
ECONOMY IN CORNWALL
AND THE ROLE OF HIGHER
EDUCATION?
Alex Huke – Research and Knowledge Exchange Manager (ESI)
Research and Knowledge Transfer Division
Research & knowledge transfer...
...as a tool for growth to improve competitiveness
and growth
But equally it can and should be a channel to help deliver
a truly low carbon economy – across all sectors
Helping to deliver a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive
economy and community...
Agenda
• What is a ‘low carbon’ economy – why
and who?
• A Cornwall context...
• University of Exeter delivering impact in
Cornwall...and beyond?
A low carbon economy?
(or one that operates within
environmental limits)
The objective
Pathways to
delivery
Beyond resource efficiency?
Source: Prosperity without growth:
Tim Jackson (London, Earthscan
2009)
•
Resource efficiency can deliver a potential 18% carbon saving by 2050 –
9% likely lost through rebound (Source WRAP/SEI 2010)
Therefore – decoupling and new business/economic models are an imperative
– BAU is not an option!
Targeting low carbon economy investment,
intervention and decision making….?
Specific Investments
1 = Truly low carbon economy ‘investment’:
1
“an investment that over its ‘attributable’ life, considering
both ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ impacts, delivers an
actual reduction in the carbon intensity of any given
activity or business (inc. CC adaptation activity
sequestering carbon)”
2 = lower carbon economy ‘investment’:
2
“an investment whereby the carbon intensity,
considering both ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ impacts,
is demonstrably less than what would have been
achieved in the case of a BAU scenario”
3 = General development of envi/carbon
literacy
3
“developing carbon and environmental sustainability
within business – developing new business models,
new business opportunities, developing the skills for
change, overcoming risk and stimulating innovation”
A Cornwall context
• A strong strategic partnership and alignment –
Cornwall Council, Cornwall economic forum, Cornwall
Development Company, other HE and FE institutions (CUC),
Convergence Programme, public and private sector etc
• Lisbon to Europe 2020
Cornwall Investment Activity and
University of Exeter
• Development of Tremough (Cornwall) Campus) –
interdisciplinary environmental research expertise
• Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) – integrated
solutions & international research excellence in clean tech, natural
environment and socio-economic change
• European Centre for Environment and Human Health
Delivering impact?
• Business engagement – diagnose opportunities
and risk to environmental change
• Collaborative research with and for business
• Working with key sectors – Clusters
• Commercialisation and spin out/in activity – linked to
innovation centres
• Training and engaging students in business
• Cornwall as a laboratory
What’s happening on the ground?
Cloud Nine:
Nature Paint:
Creative Nature:
MyCornwall.tv /
Eden.tv:
Earth energy(?):
Renewables:
Thank
You
[email protected]