IChemE welcomes climate communique
21st July 2015
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) has joined with twenty three of the UK’s leading institutions to issue a climate communiqué urging governments to negotiate an agreement to tackle climate change ahead of the United Nations climate talks in Paris later this year.
The communiqué outlines the need to transition to a zero-carbon energy economy by early in the second half of the century in order to limit global warming to 2°C.
Dr Rachael Hall, a member of the IChemE Energy Centre board, said: “The time for talking without substantial action has passed. In Paris, governments must do everything possible to secure a universal, binding agreement that will limit global warming in this century to 2°C.
“An effective agreement in Paris will, amongst other things, foster the widespread adoption of climate-change mitigation technologies that are already available and ready to be deployed.
“While it is critical that governments should take the lead and act decisively in Paris, it is not only governments that need to act; everyone, from businesses through to communities and individuals, needs to play a part in tackling this global challenge.”
Andy Furlong, IChemE director of policy, added: “Today, IChemE has joined with some of the UK’s leading scientific organisations to reaffirm that human activity is the main cause of global warming.
“The debate is settled; the immediate and urgent task is to respond to the climate change challenge. IChemE’s new Energy Centre will develop evidence-based recommendations for action in the areas of energy efficiency, carbon capture, energy storage and smart grids. These recommendations will place chemical engineering at the heart of the energy policy debate.”
A more detailed position statement will be developed ahead of the COP21 talks in Paris.