Executive Summary
Introduction
It is well known that releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, causes an overall warming of the Earth in the so called ‘greenhouse effect’.Scientists estimate that an increase in temperature of 2ºC or more above pre-industrial levels (so called ‘dangerous climate change’) would cause widespread desertification and the collapse of or ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest by the middle of the century. We would thus release further huge quantities of stored greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, producing positive feedback and an even larger eventual temperature rise.
On our present course, within a few years we will have committed to such a rise. To avoid ‘dangerous’ climate change, we must take immediate action to convert to a net-zero carbon economy. To stabilise the climate, global emissions need to fall to 7 billion tonnes of CO2 per year (1 tonne CO2 per person per year), which is the amount sequestered by the oceans each year. This compares to current UK emissions of 10 tonnes CO2 per person per year.
With the UK taking the necessary actions now, other countries in the rest of Europe, North America, China, and India might also make similar moves. It is feasible to move quickly to a net-zero-carbon economy and the required investment would have economic benefits.
Objectives
- The government should switch from taxing jobs and income to taxing carbon. This would help encourage substantial lifestyle changes aimed at using less energy, particularly in regard to road and air travel. Across the economy we need to use energy much more efficiently.
- We must construct sufficient low-emissions generation for all our energy needs. A large expansion in nuclear energy is required (in the UK, perhaps 100 nuclear reactors of 1GW capacity) using compact, passively safe, modern designs. The government must ensure the education of sufficient numbers of engineers to build these power stations.
- Electricity price guarantees could be offered to all low-emissions electricity generators. Renewable energy should be used where practical and must also significantly increase research into this area, and deploy any new coal plants with full carbon capture and storage.
- We must get ready to transform domestic heating, transport and industry to use and store clean, low-cost electricity instead of burning fossil fuels (e.g. with electric cars). Any new homes must be constructed on an ecologically sound, zero-emissions basis (including heat pumps for domestic heating).
The issue is now urgent. As James Lovelock has pointed out “We have no time to experiment with visionary energy sources. Civilisation is in imminent danger”.
Updated version of our report submitted to the UK Energy Review here: http://zcarb.net/report/Zero_Carbon_Nuclear.pdf (2.8Mb)