John Barrett

Policymakers and academics envision energy demand reductions beyond typical policies in the United Kingdom - Nature Energy Co-design of energy transition pathways with policymakers and the public lead to more significant demand-side reductions than current supply-side-focused policy. When policymakers work directly with academics to re-consider how and why we use energy in our everyday lives, politically feasible, significantly cheaper options with 45% less energy demand are possible.

Policymakers and academics envision energy demand reductions beyond typical policies in the United Kingdom. Research Briefing.

Policymaker-led scenarios and public dialogue facilitate energy demand analysis for net-zero futures - Energy Demand Research Centre

New Nature Energy paper!🎉Co-created scenarios with UK policymakers & public show demand-side action can cut energy use by 18–45% by 2050 at half the cost of tech-only paths and slash carbon removal needs by 70%. People-centred approaches can reshape net-zero planning👇
www.edrc.ac.uk/publications...

🎧 Have you listened to our podcast yet?

In this episode, Dr Sean McDaniel and @hollybt.bsky.social join @jrbarrett.bsky.social to discuss how the Labour government is performing on climate action.

👂 Listen now: climateevidenceunit.podbean.com/e/how-is-the...

Watch our latest podcast! This episode explores what needs to happen to adapt to our changing climate.

🏛️ Are the climate promises of the Labour government coming to fruition?

🎙️ In this episode, Professor @jrbarrett.bsky.social is joined by @hollybt.bsky.social from @green-alliance.org.uk and Dr Sean McDaniel from @universityofleeds.bsky.social

climateevidenceunit.podbean.com/e/how-is-the...

🎧 New on the Climate Evidence to Action podcast:
Are emissions targets still effective? Do we need more of them?

Professor @jrbarrett.bsky.social, Sam Betts-Davies & Professor @bankfieldbecky.bsky.social unpack the evidence.

Listen now → climateevidenceunit.podbean.com/e/could-more...

How’s the UK attempt to reach net zero going? There’s good news and bad news The UK’s latest climate change progress report highlights serious gaps.

My new article with @piersforster.bsky.social on the CCC's @thecccuk.bsky.social latest progress report - How’s the UK attempt to reach net zero going? There’s good news and bad news theconversation.com/hows-the-uk-...

Three priorities for Government in acting on the Climate Change Committee’s advice on the Seventh Carbon Budget - Energy Demand Research Centre

📢 The UK must act on the Climate Change Committee’s advice. Christian Calvillo, @jrbarrett.bsky.social, @martiskainen.bsky.social and Hannah Corbett highlight 3 priorities:

✅ Clear leadership & public engagement
✅ Stronger energy demand monitoring
✅ A fair transition for all

tinyurl.com/daushfdb

Good illustration of the alternative options available to the government when considering how to approach decarbonisation of surface transport.

Shows car-kms travelled per capita in latest CCC advice against ‘positive low energy futures’ (ie scenarios that are demand-led)

Will the UK’s proposed long-term emissions strategy get us to net zero? An expert review The UK’s official climate adviser has published its seventh climate budget, with a plan to reduce emissions up to 2042.

The Climate Change Committee published its recommendations for the UK’s “seventh carbon budget”, covering 2038 to 2042.

Professor John Barrett reviews the budget and finds that not only is net zero possible, but also that it has a wide range of benefits.

theconversation.com/will-the-uks...

As the UK government digests the findings, we suggest greater consideration of the “social” transformation that examines how we travel and what we buy, to fully unlock the benefits of net zero.

The report gives less consideration to demand making the technological transition harder and more expensive than necessary, and increases the risk of failure. More energy must be generated, more car miles need to be driven, and more materials and products must be supplied.

It relies heavily on electrification implementing known and established technologies at speed. These include heat pumps for homes and industry, electric vehicles and renewables. It reduces reliance on currently expensive and emerging technologies. A positive move.

Key findings - the transition to net zero is not only possible but highly beneficial. It will strengthen the economy, deliver warmer homes, cheaper household bills, reduced air pollution, greater energy security with less reliance on imported gas, and many other benefits.

Will the UK’s proposed long-term emissions strategy get us to net zero? An expert review The UK’s official climate adviser has published its seventh climate budget, with a plan to reduce emissions up to 2042.

We have also written a piece in @theconversation.com summarising the key findings, that is available from here: theconversation.com/will-the-uks...

Review of the CCC’s 7th Carbon Budget by the Climate Evidence Unit - Priestley Centre for Climate Futures This review has been undertaken by Alice Garvey, Elliott Johnson, Jonathan Norman, Sam Betts-Davies and John Barrett from the Climate Evidence Unit at the University of Leeds. Summary  The Climate Cha...

Today, the @thecccuk.bsky.social released their 7th Carbon Budget. @priestleycentre.bsky.social has produced a detailed analysis that is available here:(climate.leeds.ac.uk/review-of-th...).

6.3m properties now at risk from flooding in England.

43% higher than the Environment Agency's last report in just 2018.

Climate change is hitting harder than expected.
UK emissions reduction targets—set up to 14 years ago—aren't fit for purpose.

We need to pass the Climate & Nature Bill #CANBill

Maybe to early to say, but is there a sense of the possible leakage rate of the CO2? In other words, what percentage of CO2 is likely to be "mitigated"?

My list of plain-speaking #climate & #nature voices, telling it like it is, speaking truth to power.

Mostly focused on the UK & Ireland.

go.bsky.app/86ksKHR

Another update of my starter pack!
Now 102 experts on Europe's energy system, collected for you:
go.bsky.app/PvYmi78

And, a corresponding Feed, so you can check the posts of the experts in the pack as they appear: bsky.app/profile/did:... (thanks, @graocat.bsky.social for making it!)

A public mandate for climate change adaptation in the UK - Priestley Centre for Climate Futures Authored by Kate Sambrook, Rachel Harcourt, Suraje Dessai and Andrea Taylor in September 2024. Download or view the full report: New evidence of a strong public mandate for climate change adaptation i...

Report is available from here: climate.leeds.ac.uk/our-work/cli...

YouTube video by Priestley Centre for Climate Futures Climate Evidence Unit: A public mandate for climate change adaptation

New evidence from the Priestley Centre's Climate Evidence Unit highlights a strong public mandate for climate change adaptation in the UK. Looking for strong leadership from the Government.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G6_..., @priestleycentre.bsky.social

Targets for effective climate mitigation governance in the UK - Priestley Centre for Climate Futures Authored by Sam Betts-Davies, John Barrett, Chris Smith, Steve Pye, Elliott Johnson, and James Price in July 2024. Download or view the full report: Targets for effective climate mitigation governance...

Our insights on the targets the UK Government needs to set to deliver their 2030 target and beyond. We need separate targets for GHG emissions and carbon removal, fossil fuel use and energy demand climate.leeds.ac.uk/our-work/cli...

It is definitely less than what is needed for a per capita equitable distribution of the remaining carbon budget. As a starting point, I would like the UK Government to provide the details for how the 2030 and 2035 NDC will be delivered. At the moment, no credible pathway has been provided.

The research continues @edrc-uk.bsky.social with a citizen's panel now constructing their "Citizen led Positive Low Energy Future". Watch this space!

Along side rapid decarbonisation, energy demand falls by 38% from today. It's not possible to reach the target without transforming how we use energy. It has to combine both efficiency and sufficiency measures.

What does the UK's new 81% reduction in GHG emissions target look like? Our Positive Low Energy Future Scenarios describes a pathway with numerous co-benefits while delivering the target. More information from low-energy.creds.ac.uk