The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has launched its next major inquiry, Facing up to Climate Change. A multi-disciplinary group of experts will look into the gap between the policies necessary for a low-carbon lifestyle and what the public will currently accept.
The rise in global greenhouse gas emissions presents a risk of significant climate change that will affect the lifestyles of people all over the Earth. Since the risk was identified and accepted by influential politicians at the end of the 1980s, climate change has seen rising temperatures, different rainfall patterns, rising sea level and retreat of many mountain glaciers. Such changes present problems that are particularly pressing for poorer nations. There are ethical and practical reasons for richer nations to address the risk of further change, to seek possible solutions and to set an example by implementing them. Recognising the uncertainties in climate science and the political difficulties of dealing with such long-term issues, this inquiry is focussed on the opportunities and problems associated with a move to a low-carbon economy in Scotland.
The inquiry committee will be headed by the internationally renowned climate scientist Professor David Sugden, Professor of Geography from the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh and a world leader in ice sheets and global climate change.
Speaking at the launch Professor Sugden commented, “The team that the RSE has drawn together is a strong one. It is interdisciplinary and independent. We think that individuals and organisations want to reduce their carbon footprint but they encounter a host of poorly understood obstacles. We want to find out just what these obstacles are and how they can best be overcome. The key to our approach is to engage with people. We plan to hold regional debates, a schools competition on a low-carbon future, public lectures and discussions with a wide range of bodies. The inquiry is a daunting task, but one that is well worth the effort."
Amongst the challenges that climate change is likely to bring to Scotland will be: the impact on food security and our level of self sufficiency; changes to energy prices and security; shortages of food and water in parts of the world leading to increases in migration; and how moving to a low carbon economy will affect our daily lives
The RSE Inquiry will seek to raise awareness of the opportunities and the challenges ahead, both from climate change and from a move to a low carbon economy. It will attempt to identify how individuals, communities and industries can turn these challenges into a positive opportunity.
The remit of the group will be:
1.
To engage in deliberative dialogue with individuals, industries and public authorities to help develop and respond to proposed Government climate change policies;
2.
To identify barriers to change and to recommend measures for current and future policies in these areas and the timescales on which action might need to be developed.
Membership
Chairman: Professor David Sugden FRSE.
Professor of Geography, Geosciences, University of Edinburgh; specialist in ice sheets and climate change.
Members:
Professor Alan Werritty FRSE (Deputy Chair).
Research Director, UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee
Mrs Erica Caldwell FRSGS.
Hon. President of the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers; Senior Examiner, SQA; Former Faculty Head, Carnoustie High School
Professor Colin Campbell. Science Leader, Soils Group, The Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen
Dr Andrew Dlugolecki.
Former Director of General Insurance Development at Aviva; Member of the UK Adaptation Sub-Committee on Climate Change
Professor Nick Hanley.
Professor of Environmental Economics, University of Stirling
Dr Andrew Kerr.
Director, Scottish Alliance for Geosciences, Environment and Society (SAGES); specialist in climate change policy
Professor Janette Webb.
Professor of Sociology of Organisations, School in Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh
Written Evidence
The Committee has invited written responses from Government bodies, companies and individuals on what they are doing in response to climate change and what barriers to change they are facing. The specific questions can be downloaded here.
Submissions
The deadline for submissions of evidence has now passed. To contact the Inquiry, please use the contact details below:
Dr Marc Rands,
The Royal Society of Edinburgh,
22-26 George Street,
Edinburgh
EH2 2PQ
As with previous RSE Inquiries, all written evidence submissions will be posted on the Society’s website following publication of the Committee’s report (and will be made available in hard copy, upon request), unless requested to be kept in confidence. View evidence submitted to date
Funding
A key requirement for the RSE to be able to hold this inquiry is to raise funding from a range of sources independent from Government. The Inquiry currently has support from various sectors (public, corporate and charitable), but is still looking for further support to complete its work. Organisations wishing to join in helping fund this work would be most appreciated.
Supporters of this inquiry to date include:
British Council Scotland
BP
City of Edinburgh Council
GlaxoSmithKline
Highland Council
Lloyds Banking Group Scotland
Marks & Spencer Group plc
Royal Bank of Scotland Group
RSPB Scotland
Scottish Environment Link
Scottish Estates Business Group
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Power
Scottish Rural Property and Business Assoc.
Scottish Water
SEPA
Shell U.K. Limited
Standard Life
The Forestry Commission Scotland
Yorkshire & Clydesdale Bank Foundation
Events
24 August 2010
RSE Lecture - Global Action on Climate Change: the Road to Cancun - Lord Stern, IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government at the LSE, Location : City Chambers, Glasgow. click here to register
21 September 2010
RSE Lecture - Lord Krebs, Chair of the UK Climate Change Committee Adaption Sub-Committee, Location :RSE, click here to register
11 November 2010
RSE Lecture - Adapting institutions to climate change - Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS, Chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Location Town House, Aberdeen
Past Events
14 July 2010
RSE/ICMS Discussion Forum - Climate change during the last 10,000 years: Reconstructions and uncertainties - Professor Heinz Wanner, University of Bern, Professor John Haslett, Trinity College, Dublin and Professor Gabriele Hegerl, Chair of Climate System Science, University of Edinburgh
RSE Lecture -China's Environment and the Future. - Professor Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden
17 March 2010
SCCIP New Climate Change tools and information for decision makers in the marine and coastal sector.
16 March 2010
Lecture – The simplicity and complexity of wind: an engineer’s tale. Location: RSE, 6.00pm. (Joint meeting with Royal Academy of Engineering) Read Report / View slides
3 March 2010
Public Meeting. Location: Town & County Hall, Town House, Union Street, Aberdeen. 5.30pm Feedback
Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBE FRS FRSE,
General Secretary, The Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Member PM's Council for Science and Technology. Professor John Mitchell OBE FRS,
Director Climate Science, The Met Office. Dr Andrew Dlugolecki,
Visiting Fellow, Tyndall Centre, University of East Anglia and Chartered Insurance Institute
22 October 2009
The Copenhagen Climate Change Summit: UK Government Position & Possible Inputs from Scotland. Location: RSE
