A Severn Barrage?: Government Response to the Committee's Second Report of Session 2013–14
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The Economics of the Green Investment Bank: Costs and Benefits, Rationale and Value for Money
The economics of the Green Investment Bank: costs and benefits, rationale and value for money Report prepared for The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills Final report October 2011 The economics of the Green Investment Bank: cost and benefits, rationale and value for money 2 Acknowledgements This report was commissioned by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Vivid Economics would like to thank BIS staff for their practical support in the review of outputs throughout this project. We would like to thank McKinsey and Deloitte for their valuable assistance in delivering this project from start to finish. In addition, we would like to thank the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the Carbon Trust and Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL), for their valuable support and advice at various stages of the research. We are grateful to the many individuals in the financial sector and the energy, waste, water, transport and environmental industries for sharing their insights with us. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors and not those of BIS or any other party, and the authors take responsibility for any errors or omissions. An appropriate citation for this report is: Vivid Economics in association with McKinsey & Co, The economics of the Green Investment Bank: costs and benefits, rationale and value for money, report prepared for The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, October 2011 The economics of the Green Investment Bank: cost and benefits, rationale and value for money 3 Executive Summary The UK Government is committed to achieving the transition to a green economy and delivering long-term sustainable growth. -
Labour's Zero-Based Review
Labour’s Zero-Based Review Interim Report Number 15: Department for Energy and Climate Change Labour’s Zero-Based Review Interim Report No.15 DEPARTMENT FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE FOREWORD The leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, and the Shadow ChanCellor, Ed Balls, have made Clear that departmental budgets will be cut not only in 2015-16, but each year until we have achieved our promise to balanCe the books. Across every part of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), we need to take a tighter approach to finanCial management of taxpayers’ money, and reform the framework within which the energy market operates so that it is fair for bill payers. Under the Tory’s failing plan, energy bills have risen, and energy Companies have failed to pass on falling wholesale Costs. Record numbers of families with children Cannot afford to heat their homes. Investors face unCertainty and indeCision about the future of our energy system. And the mismanagement of taxpayers’ money, such as through the Government’s poor-value Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, and the NuClear Decommissioning Authority’s budget, have seen tens of millions of pounds wasted. Britain needs a government that will stand up to the energy Companies to deliver fairer prices and a better deal for bill payers. A government that is serious about tackling the sCandal of fuel poverty and cold homes. And a government that is putting in place the vital reforms neCessary for investment in the low Carbon future of our energy system, and to deliver value for money for the taxpayer. -
The Performance of the Department of Energy & Climate Change 2012-13
DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW The performance of the Department of Energy & Climate Change 2012-13 NOVEMBER 2013 Our vision is to help the nation spend wisely. Our public audit perspective helps Parliament hold government to account and improve public services. The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending for Parliament and is independent of government. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Amyas Morse, is an Officer of the House of Commons and leads the NAO, which employs some 860 staff. The C&AG certifies the accounts of all government departments and many other public sector bodies. He has statutory authority to examine and report to Parliament on whether departments and the bodies they fund have used their resources efficiently, effectively, and with economy. Our studies evaluate the value for money of public spending, nationally and locally. Our recommendations and reports on good practice help government improve public services, and our work led to audited savings of almost £1.2 billion in 2012. Contents Introduction Aim and scope of this briefing 4 Part One About the Department 5 Part Two Recent NAO work on the Department 24 Appendix One The Department’s sponsored bodies at 1 April 2013 29 Appendix Two Results of the Civil Service People Survey 2012 30 Appendix Three Publications by the NAO on the Department since April 2011 32 Appendix Four Cross-government reports of relevance to the Department since April 2011 34 Links to external websites were valid at the time of publication of this report. The National Audit Office is not responsible for the future validity of the links. -
Tyndall Centre Briefing Note 40
Review of the Fourth Carbon Budget - Call for Evidence www.theccc.org.uk/call-for-evidence Question and Response form When responding please provide answers that are as specific and evidence-based as possible, providing data and references to the extent possible. Please limit your response to a maximum of 400 words per question. Questions for consideration: A. Climate Science and International Circumstances The Committee’s advice assumes a climate objective to limit central estimates of temperature rise to as close to 2C as possible, with a very low chance of exceeding 4C by 2100 (henceforth referred to as “the climate objective”). This is broadly similar to the UNFCCC climate objective, and that of the EU. In order to achieve this objective, global emissions would have to peak in the next few years, before decreasing to roughly half of recent levels by 2050 and falling further thereafter. The UNFCCC is working toward a global deal consistent with such reductions, to be agreed by 2015. Earlier attempts (e.g. at Copenhagen in 2009, before the fourth budget was recommended or legislated) have failed to achieve a comprehensive global deal to limit emissions. It is difficult to imagine a global deal which allows developed countries to have emissions per capita in 2050 which are significantly above a sustainable global average, implying the need for emissions reductions in the UK of at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. The EU has not yet agreed a package beyond 2020, but the European Commission is consulting on a range of issues relating to development of climate and energy targets for 2030. -
Nuclear Power
No.59 z iii "Ill ~ 2 er0 Ill Ill 0 Nuclear Family Pia nning p3 Chernobyl Broadsheet ·, _ I. _ . ~~~~ George Pritchar d speaks CONTENTS COMMENT The important nuclear development since the Nuclear Family Planning 3 last SCRAM Journal was the Government's The CEGB's plans, and the growing opposition, after Sizewell B by go ahead for Sizewell B: the world's first HUGH RICHARDS. reactor order since Chernobyl, and Britain's News 4-6 first since the go ahead was given to Torness Accidents Will Happen 1 and Heysham 2 in 1978. Of great concern is Hinkley Seismic Shocker 8-9 the CEGB's announced intention to build "a A major article on seismic safety of nuclear plants in which JAMES small fanilty• of PWRs, starting with Hinkley GARRETT reveals that Hinkley Point C. At the time of the campaign In the Point sits on a geological fault. south west to close the Hinkley A Magnox Trouble at Trawsfynydd 10-11 station, and .a concerted push in Scotland to A summary of FoE's recent report on increasing radiation levels from prevent the opening of Torness, another Trawsfynydd's by PATRICK GREEN. nuclear announcement is designed to divide Pandora's POX 12 and demoralise the opposition. But, it should The debate over plutonium transport make us more determined. The article on the to and from Dounreay continues by facing page gives us hope: the local PETE MUTTON. authorities on Severnside are joining forces CHERNOBYL BROADSHEET to oppose Hinkley C, and hopefully they will Cock-ups and Cover-ups work closely with local authorities in other "Sacrificed to • • • Nuclear Power" threatened areas - Lothian Region, The Soviet Experience Northumberland, the County Council Coalition "An Agonising Decision• 13 against waste dumping and the Nuclear Free GEORGE PRITCHARD explains why Zones - to formulate a national anti-nuclear he left Greenpeoce and took a job strategy. -
K45: Full Chain Public and Stakeholder Engagement Commercial; Project Management
January 2016 K45: Full chain public and stakeholder engagement Commercial; Project Management K45: Full chain public and stakeholder engagement IMPORTANT NOTICE The information provided further to UK CCS Commercialisation Programme (the Competition) set out herein (the Information) has been prepared by Capture Power Limited and its sub-contractors (the Consortium) solely for the Department of Energy and Climate Change in connection with the Competition. The Information does not amount to advice on CCS technology or any CCS engineering, commercial, financial, regulatory, legal or other solutions on which any reliance should be placed. Accordingly, no member of the Consortium makes (and the UK Government does not make) any representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any of the Information and no reliance may be placed on the Information. In so far as permitted by law, no member of the Consortium or any company in the same group as any member of the Consortium or their respective officers, employees or agents accepts (and the UK Government does not accept) any responsibility or liability of any kind, whether for negligence or any other reason, for any damage or loss arising from any use of or any reliance placed on the Information or any subsequent communication of the Information. Each person to whom the Information is made available must make their own independent assessment of the Information after making such investigation and taking professional technical, engineering, commercial, regulatory, financial, legal or other advice, as they deem necessary. The contents of this report draw on work partly funded under the European Union’s European Energy Programme for Recovery. -
Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C
Global warming of 1.5°C An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty Summary for Policymakers Edited by Valérie Masson-Delmotte Panmao Zhai Co-Chair Working Group I Co-Chair Working Group I Hans-Otto Pörtner Debra Roberts Co-Chair Working Group II Co-Chair Working Group II Jim Skea Priyadarshi R. Shukla Co-Chair Working Group III Co-Chair Working Group III Anna Pirani Wilfran Moufouma-Okia Clotilde Péan Head of WGI TSU Head of Science Head of Operations Roz Pidcock Sarah Connors J. B. Robin Matthews Head of Communication Science Officer Science Officer Yang Chen Xiao Zhou Melissa I. Gomis Science Officer Science Assistant Graphics Officer Elisabeth Lonnoy Tom Maycock Melinda Tignor Tim Waterfield Project Assistant Science Editor Head of WGII TSU IT Officer Working Group I Technical Support Unit Front cover layout: Nigel Hawtin Front cover artwork: Time to Choose by Alisa Singer - www.environmentalgraphiti.org - © Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The artwork was inspired by a graphic from the SPM (Figure SPM.1). © 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Revised on January 2019 by the IPCC, Switzerland. Electronic copies of this Summary for Policymakers are available from the IPCC website www.ipcc.ch ISBN 978-92-9169-151-7 Introduction Chapter 2 ChapterSummary 1 for Policymakers 6 Summary for Policymakers Summary for Policymakers SPM SPM Summary SPM for Policymakers Drafting Authors: Myles R. -
Planning and Permitting Study UK (July 2019)
NORTH SEA WIND POWER HUB CONSORTIUM Planning and Permitting Study Final Report P2303_R4682_Rev3 | 1 July 2019 Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services Exchange House, Station Road, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7DW, United Kingdom North Sea Wind Power Hub Consortium Planning and Permitting Study Final Report DOCUMENT RELEASE FORM North Sea Wind Power Hub Consortium P2303_R4682_Rev3 Planning and Permitting Study Final Report Author/s Charlie Cameron, Jillian Hobbs Project Manager Authoriser Emma Langley Beth Monkman Rev No Date Reason Author Checker Authoriser Rev 0 25/04/2019 Draft Section 1 & 2 CC JH BHM Rev 1 10/05/2019 Draft Section 3 CC JH BHM Rev 2 24/05/2019 Final Draft CC JH / ESL BHM Rev 3 01/07/2019 Final CC ESL BHM Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services is the trading name of Metoc Ltd, a member of the Intertek group of companies. I P2303_R4682_Rev3 | 1 July 2019 North Sea Wind Power Hub Consortium Planning and Permitting Study Final Report CONTENTS DOCUMENT RELEASE FORM I GLOSSARY IV 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Project Overview 1 1.2 Study Objectives 1 1.3 Scope of Work 2 2. SUMMARY OF APPLICABLE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 4 2.1 International and European Policy and Legislation 4 2.2 National Policy and Legislation 10 2.3 Current Status of Hydrogen Transmission in the UK 19 3. UK PLANNING AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS 20 3.1 Planning Considerations 20 3.2 Consents Required for OWF and Interconnector Cables 31 4. KEY PLANNING AND PERMITTING ISSUES 54 4.1 Consultation 54 4.2 Key Issues 57 5. PROJECT PROPOSED TIMELINES 59 6. -
Climate Change and Democratic Representation Can Select Committees Influence a Company’S Environmental, Social and Governance Credentials?
Climate Change and Democratic Representation Can Select Committees influence a company’s environmental, social and governance credentials? Stanley Kwong 2 Executive Summary The House of Commons Select Committees (Committees) are a group of MPs from different political parties tasked with examining policy issues, holding the government and companies to account, and making proposals for new laws. An area where Committee assertiveness is particularly evident is in relation to topics concerning sustainability. This is in part driven by large scale environmental disasters that warranted Committee investigation. For example, inquiries concerning BP’s oil rig catastrophe (by the Energy and Climate Change Committee) and Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal (by the Environmental Audit Committee) drew widespread public and media interest. Public awareness on climate change issues has further elevated Committee work in this area, with a particular emphasis on scrutinising companies that hold poor sustainability practices that affect wider society. From an economic perspective this is typical of a negative externality, with Professor Stern (2008) calling global warming ‘the greatest market failure of all time’. However, the climate crisis may be more pronounced than a solely economic failure. In particular, it may also highlight fundamental deficiencies and systemic failures in the governance of liberal democracies. In this context, the emergence of mechanisms of deliberative democracy, such as the Climate Assembly UK, have grown in popularity as formats that aim to cultivate citizen representation and participation. Nevertheless, the public continue to look to elected representatives for action, particularly on the gap that remains on private sector company oversight. This is where the Committees’ distinctive investigative approach can be a key component in driving forward the climate dialogue, by adding a unique layer of public and investigative pressure on companies. -
MCA Climate Action Plan
13 51 6 Al Sb C Aluminium Solar cells Antimony Carbon 27 29 79 Co Cu Au Cobalt Copper Gold Batteries 26 3 25 Fe Li Mn Hydrogen Iron Lithium Manganese 12 28 41 Mg Ni Nb Magnesium CCUS Nickel Niobium 50 92 30 Sn U Zn Tin Uranium Zinc EV & hybrids Nuclear Mineral Wind Rare earth energy sands energy elements Copyright © 2020 Minerals Council of Australia CLIMATE ACTION PLAN PREAMBLE minerals.org.au Supporting ongoing climate action by Australia’s minerals industry The MCA and all of its Sustained climate action across all nations is 4. Accelerated development of the This 2020-2023 plan furthers the minerals well as taking a lead on commodity stewardship required to reduce the risks of human-induced minerals required for a low emissions sector’s public commitment to addressing looking at global procurement practices, circular members are taking serious climate change and to support world-wide future including aluminium, copper, nickel, climate change on an ongoing basis consistent economy, and traceability of commodities action on climate change decarbonisation as we transform to a lower zinc, iron, uranium, base metals, lithium, with the MCA’s climate statement. It outlines a through their lifecycle. emissions future. minerals sands, and rare earths series of actions focused on three key themes: and are committed to the Practical and cost-effective options are already Our sector improves the lives of millions of 5. Global and domestic partnerships 1. Support developing technology pathways to being developed and put into action across the Paris Agreement and its goal people in Australia and overseas through the with governments, regulators, customers, achieve significant reductions in Australia’s minerals value chain. -
SIMPLIFIED PLANNING Planning Regulations, in Particular, Remain Notoriously Complex
In common with all recent Governments, the Coalition has often declared its ambition to “cut red tape”. Yet only modest gains have been achieved. SIMPLIFIED PLANNING Planning regulations, in particular, remain notoriously complex. 118 Acts combine to create a “lawyer’s banquet” of complexity. The result is an unnecessarily lengthy and costly planning procedure which enables vested interests to prosper, Simplifi ed planning creates commercial uncertainty and restricts new development. The renewed interest in Garden Cities is to be welcomed. Applying the lessons of The case for sunset clauses the success of Milton Keynes (and that of the Urban Development Corporations) could lead to a new era of privately-fi nanced Garden Cities, thereby easing the current housing shortage while also spurring growth. KEITH BOYFIELD AND INNA ALI The fi rst step must be to rationalise all planning regulation in a New Consolidated Act.; and to introduce sunset clauses for all new planning regulations. KEITH BOYFIELD AND INNA ALI KEITH BOYFIELD Price £10.00 Centre Centre for Policy for Policy Studies Studies THE AUTHORS Keith Boyfield is a Research Fellow of the Centre for Policy Studies. He advises a range of companies, non-profit organisations, inter-governmental bodies and media groups. He edited and contributed to Britain's Unsolved Housing Dilemma published by the European Policy Forum. Inna Ali holds a LL B from Essex University and a Master in Laws (LLM) from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where she was awarded a Merit for her dissertation on Law. She is currently studying for a Masters in management at BPP University College, London. -
Analysis of a Severn Barrage a REPORT PREPARED for the NGO STEERING GROUP
Analysis of a Severn Barrage A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE NGO STEERING GROUP June 2008 © Frontier Economics Ltd, London. i Frontier Economics | June 2008 Analysis of a Severn Barrage Executive summary......................................................................................iv 1 Introduction .........................................................................................7 1.1 Background...................................................................................................7 1.2 Overview.......................................................................................................8 Part 1: What is the role of Government? 2 Approach ..............................................................................................9 3 The role of Government ..................................................................... 11 3.1 Rationale..................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Objectives .................................................................................................. 16 Part 2: How does a barrage compare? 4 Approach ............................................................................................ 19 4.1 General background ................................................................................. 19 4.2 Overview of approach to modelling ...................................................... 21 5 Analysis and discussion .....................................................................26 5.1 Sensitivity