Accelerating real world emission reductions towards net zero

Why is it important? 

In the UK we’ve cut our emissions by more than 50% since 1990, with government policies helping to remove coal from our electricity supply and increase renewable power. The next phase of climate action will require a combination of new technologies, greenhouse gas removals and low-carbon choices, with the public playing an increasingly important role.

Yet, despite the wealth of decarbonisation and net zero emission targets put forward by national and subnational actors, policy and actions so far still fall short of what is needed to ensure high level commitments translate into real world emission cuts. 

What are we doing?  

We engage academics, policymakers and other stakeholders to build understanding around the need and opportunities for mitigation action across different sectors, and to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest evidence and research needs on decarbonisation options. 

In light of the growing interest in the use of Artificial Intelligence and the rise of large data centres in the UK and beyond, we are exploring the potential implications for the energy system.  

As part of this work, we convene a network of Imperial academics who are active in research related to energy technologies and systems. Bringing expertise from across several different disciplines – including engineering, finance and policy – the network supports discussion and knowledge-sharing, with a focus on addressing policy challenges and identifying emerging research priorities. If you are an Imperial researcher and would like to join this network, contact Cait Hewitt or Aidan Rhodes.