Memorandum submitted by The Royal Society
of Chemistry
The RSC is the largest organisation in Europe
for advancing the chemical sciences. Supported by a network of
43,000 members worldwide and an internationally acclaimed publishing
business, our activities span education and training, conferences
and science policy, and the promotion of the chemical sciences
to the public.
This document represents the views of the RSC.
The RSC's Royal Charter obliges it to serve the public interest
by acting in an independent advisory capacity, and the RSC is
happy for this submission to be put into the public domain.
The document has been written from the perspective
of the Royal Society of Chemistry and consequently our comments
relate to only parts of the consultation document.
The evidence submitted was for the most part
published in an RSC report[56]
entitled "Chemical Science Priorities for Sustainable Energy
Solutions", the RSC responses to the DTI energy review[57],
the EAC inquiry into Reducing Carbon Emissions from Transport[58],
the S&T committee inquiry into carbon capture and storage[59]
and the joint RSC and Bioscience Federation response to the EFRA
inquiry into biofuels[60].
The Prime Minister continues to identify
climate change as "probably the greatest long-term challenge
facing the human race". Does the 2006 Climate Change
Programme represent a realistic strategy to prepare the UK to
meet this challenge?
The RSC is encouraged that the Government is
committed to tackling climate change and supports a number of
the measures that are proposed or in place internationally and
domestically. In particular the RSC agrees that climate change
is a long-term challenge and that measures and programmes must
reflect this with clear and consistent long-term messages.
The RSC stated in our recent response to the
DTI Energy Review[61]
that
"with sufficient support, the chemical sciences
will be critical in developing clean energy technologies in the
medium and the long-term. Technologies will include solar power,
fuel cells, hydrogen as a fuel, safe nuclear waste management,
carbon capture and storage, energy storage and energy efficient
lighting. These technologies will reduce our reliance upon imported
energy sources and reduce UK carbon emissions."
Energy policy must account for the full life-cycle
implications of energy generation, including extraction, construction,
transformation, transmission, usage and end-of-life. Only through
a comprehensive and transparent process will the environmental
impact be known and only then can energy options be compared on
an equal basis. This will only be achieved with an intimate knowledge
of the chemistry and thermodynamics of energy generation. This
process will identify major opportunities for new chemistry such
as methodology for highly efficient and low energy in situ extraction.
The major challenge here is to develop life cycle assessment methodology
that is globally accepted, robust and transparent.
Energy policy must also recognise the impacts
of energy options upon air quality, human health and climate change.
The "DEFRA Air Quality Expert Group report: Air quality and
climate change: a UK perspective"[62]
is an important source of information here and should be recognised
in future energy policy.
Internationally the RSC urges the UK Government
to show leadership in developing long-term measures to tackle
climate change. In particular it is vital that decisions on long-term
future of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Clean
Development Mechanism are made sooner rather than later in order
to provide business with the confidence to invest in innovative
commercial opportunities and technologies.
The UK should collaborate with other countries
where there is a key opportunity to maximise the speed of technology
development. Key technologies include:
— Carbon capture and storage (CCS).
— Hydrogen as an energy source.
In the energy supply sector the RSC is encouraged
that the Government is committed to microgeneration technologies,
carbon capture and storage, the Renewables Obligation and to the
consideration of the role of CHP within the EU ETS. The RSC encourages
the Government towards a long-term UK energy policy that promotes
a diverse energy mix and avoids over reliance upon a single energy
source.
In the business sector it is vital that energy
policy is clear and should be applicable to businesses of all
sizes and types so that there is significant buy-in across all
sectors. Energy policy must include a mixture of incentives and
regulation. Current energy policy has had a limited impact because
it is confusing and complicated, it spans a number of Government
departments and uses numerous policy tools that are sometimes
contradictory. The "How to plug the energy gap" report[63]
recommends that a permanent independent cross-party energy commission
should be set up to manage the UK energy and emissions budget,
set policy and represent the UK in global energy debate. The RSC
recommends that this suggestion be given serious consideration.
For the transport sector the RSC encourages
the uptake of biofuels through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
However, when considering biofuels it is important that they are
produced efficiently otherwise the benefits of reduced carbon
emissions can be eroded. A move towards vehicles with greater
fuel efficiency through the use of lighter materials of construction,
advanced fuel additives, increased engine efficiency, the use
of advanced technologies such as hybrid vehicles and those with
fuel cells should be encouraged both through support for technology
development and through policy that offers incentives for using
fuel efficient vehicles. Carbon emissions from air travel are
expected to increase substantially in the medium term, and whilst
technology can reduce the emissions per flight, it is much more
important to reduce the overall number of flights.
The domestic sector offers a huge opportunity
and a challenge for reducing carbon emissions. The RSC is encouraged
that the Climate Change Programme includes measures for much needed
energy efficiency improvements to domestic buildings and building
regulations. Domestic energy efficiency measures can play a significant
part in meeting UK carbon reduction targets. 40% of energy consumption
is used to heat homes, and in turn, 30% of this energy is lost
through windows. The RSC is concerned that the measures proposed
do not adequately address energy efficiency in older buildings
and that this is a missed opportunity. Smart coatings on glass
and highly efficient insulation materials could dramatically reduce
heat loss in buildings saving money and reducing carbon emissions.
With sufficient support, scientists and engineers will continue
to develop products and services that are energy efficient.
In the public sector the Government must show
leadership and demonstrate significant carbon emission reduction
in both its buildings and its vehicle fleet. Such a scheme would
increase stakeholder confidence in carbon emission measures and
provide valuable data on high impact programmes and technologies.
The RSC endorses the commitment to raising public
awareness and encouraging personal action.
Does the Government need to do more, and if so
what, to try to ensure that it meets the 20% reduction in carbon
dioxide emissions by 2010?
The RSC believes that the only way to meet the
2010 target for reducing carbon dioxide by 20% is for the UK to
become significantly more energy efficient. To ensure that carbon
emissions are further reduced beyond 2010, significant UK investment
in clean energy technologies such as renewables, carbon capture
and storage and low emission vehicles is required now, alongside
a continued commitment to energy efficiency.
The RSC is disappointed that the Government
has admitted that the UK will fall short of the 20% reduction
in carbon dioxide emissions target that was set in the 2003 Energy
White Paper. The failure to meet this target is a missed opportunity
to demonstrate world leadership in commitment to tackle climate
change.
The RSC stated in our recent response to the
DTI Energy Review[64]
that
"Technology will not provide a short-term
solution to meet Government carbon emission reduction targets;
reducing energy demand is the only way to achieve these targets.
The critical sectors to concentrate upon are domestic living and
transportation."
To what extent, if at all, will the outcome of
the Energy Review affect the implementation of the Climate Change
Programme?
The RSC hopes that the outcome of the energy
review will promote a diverse energy mix and avoid over reliance
upon a single energy source. The RSC also hopes that the energy
review promotes a clear and co-ordinated energy policy and that
the energy policy should:
(b) Not unfairly bias specific technologies
but instead provide a level economic playing field for all clean
energy technologies; and
(c) Perhaps best be made by an independent,
cross-party energy commission rather than the Government of the
day.
A coordinated, long-term energy policy with
a transparent framework of incentives and regulation will provide
an environment in which businesses and people have the confidence
to invest in new energy projects and infrastructure.
The RSC hopes that a significant outcome of
the energy review will be a reaffirmation of the Government's
commitment to energy efficiency coupled with a vigorous programme
of activities with challenging and realistic targets.
May 2006
56 www.rsc.org/Gateway/Subject/EnvEnergy/ Back
57
www.rsc.org/policy Back
58
www.rsc.org/policy Back
59
www.rsc.org/policy Back
60
www.rsc.org/policy Back
61
RSC response to DTI energy review-www.rsc.org/policy Back
62
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/airqual-climatechange/index.htm Back
63
"How to plug the energy gap"-www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=PR60 Back
64
RSC response to DTI energy review-www.rsc.org/policy Back
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