Informing Government Ministers of the Need for a New Energy Bill - Essay Example

Briefing Report to the Secretary of for Energy and Climate Change Executive Summary Climate change is most certainly an environmental concept and topic that elicits strong emotions and feelings, no matter what position one takes on the issue. There are many in the scientific community that feel that climate change is the single most important environmental threat to the earth today, and that if it is not dealt with by implementing policies designed to conserve energy consumption, serious consequences can occur for future generations. There are others, however, that feel the current evidence related to climate change does not support such a serious reaction by the global community, and that there are more important and potentially devastating environmental issues that should be dealt with, particularly here at home in the United Kingdom. Energy use is one of those areas. Previous bills have dealt with this issue, yet have been met with mixed success in the UK, and the European Union as a whole. The purpose of this briefing is to inform government ministers of the need for a new energy bill that tackles these important issues in a definitive and productive manner. Briefing Report to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Importance of the Issue The time for new energy legislation is upon us. The issue of climate change and impending environmental policies that are failing us have brought us to this point. It is now estimated that so-called ‘carbon sinks’ are only able to absorb roughly 50% of gases produced by human factors today. This means that the other 50% are simply accumulating in the atmosphere, on an annual basis. [1] Allowed to go unchecked, the amount of human produced carbon dioxide gases that are present in the atmosphere, according to many reports, will simply be too much for the earth to handle, and global warming will be the inevitable result. This article also notes that it is human greenhouse gas emissions, and not noticeable changes in the sun’s radiation, that are currently causing climate change around the globe. To support that, it is notes that measurements in the upper atmosphere taken in the thirty year period from 1979-2009 demonstrate that the energy exerted by the sun actually went up and down in cycles, and that no net increase was observable. It is also noted that warming is occurring in the lower atmosphere, but the upper atmosphere is actually cooling. The report demonstrates that if the sun were the driving force behind the temperature change being noted today, then there would have be a warming be observed in the stratosphere as well, yet only cooling is noted. As such, the conclusion is that human produced carbon dioxide gases are the primary culprit of the climate change being experienced globally today.[1] Previous Attempts at Energy Legislation To reduce the environmental footprint that businesses have in the United Kingdom, carbon trust interest free loans have been introduced. The loans are government funded, unsecured, and offered to businesses at 0% interest if the money is used to engage in energy saving projects. The maximum loans amount is 100,000 Pounds and is available for small, medium, and large companies alike. In addition, an enhanced capital allowance has been implemented that has resulted in a list of products that are potentially eligible for 100% tax relief as a result of implemented technology designed to save energy.[2] An example of a covered product is thermal energy equipment. Both of these, and other policies similar, are an attempt to encourage energy saving activities throughout broader UK society. Criticisms of Previous Energy Bills Previous attempts at creating effective energy policy in the UK have been met with much criticism for serving to only favour big business. An example is the recent passing of the low-carbon energy bill. In fact, the recent bill seem to have caused even more uncertainty throughout society as to what the new energy policy actually entails, as it seems to only reward companies that reduce their electricity consumption through certain efficiency savings. This change, however, has only confused investors in a system that has been largely unstable since being privatised years ago. It does not go nearly far enough in encourage private and corporate responsibility in terms of reducing energy consumption in deference to implementing new technology designed to lessen the carbon footprint throughout society.[3] This will, in turn, serve to minimise the effects of climate change. Meeting EU and International Guidelines with the New Bill This new bill will correct previous shortcoming by implementing new energy policies that bring the United Kingdom more in line with EU and international guidelines. The carbon footprint will be sufficiently reduced by the year 2020, and pollution levels decreased to the point that our nation will be doing its part to lessen the impact that humans have towards climate change. In the end, the expense required to implement the provisions of the new bill will be offset by savings in other areas in decades to come.[3] Recent Data on Climate Change The reality is that, during the course of the past century alone, temperature across the Earth have gone up on average between 1 and 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. To be fair, this data is a bit inconclusive as there is also evidence that the temperatures observed over 1,000 years ago are believed to be identical as they were in the 1900s.[4] This would indicate that climate change, or global warming, is a cyclical change that humans have been unable to control. This does not mean, however, that we cannot work to make the planet more habitable for future generations. There is the plausible argument that hum as are causing climate change, as reflected in the rise in observed temperatures during the modern era, a time period where fossil fuels are used regularly and our natural resources are beginning to dwindle as a result. One recently published study has revealed some startling information. It portrays the reality that humans are much to blame in terms of a negative environment impact on the Earth, and impending climate change. The statistic is given that fully 75 percent of the increase in carbon dioxide experienced during the 20th century can be attributed directly to human actions, such as the burning of fossil fuels. In addition, the 389 part per million carbon dioxide level reached in April of 2010 is the highest they have been in 650,000 years. The argument here is that carbon dioxide gases that are warming the earth are produced by humans. They are not natural carbon dioxide gases that are released via the ocean, or other carbon producing natural resources on earth. As such, authors of this report contend that much of the climate change we are experiencing today is directly caused by human factors. The point is also made that greenhouse gasses produced by humans continue to remain in the atmosphere for years after their creation, resulting in a most certain climate change that the forests and oceans on earth do not have the capability to absorb all of the gases on their own.[5] New Technology There are new technologies on the horizon, and as a society, the United Kingdom needs to position itself to be ready to implement these as soon as they come online. Alternative energy sources are no longer futuristic in nature, but they are upon us now and being tested. Sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear power can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels in the near term, reversing the effects of climate change in the long term.[6] Key Priorities That Need to be Addressed In summary, the main priority that needs to be immediately addressed in the UK is to reduce our reliance of energy sources powered by fossil fuels. [7] To do this, we must provide incentives for every resident of this great nation to reduce their own energy consumption by focusing on some of the numerous alternative sources of energy available on the market today. In so doing, any harmful effects of climate change can certainly be minimised moving forward and preserve the Earth’s environment for generations to come. [8] Bibliography [1] T. Brennand, “Renewable energy in the United Kingdom; Policies and prospects”, Energy for Sustainable Development, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 82-92, 2004. [2] P. Connor, “The development of renewable heating policy in the United Kingdom”, Renewable Energy, vol. 75, pp. 733-744, 2015. [3] P. Connor, “Policy and regulation for smart grids in the United Kingdom”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 269-286, 2014. [4] T. Crowley, “Causes of climate change over the past 1000 years. Science, vol. 289, no. 5477, pp. 270-277, 2010. [5] M. Bond-Smith, “Humans cause climate change”, Accountancy, vol. 12, no. 40, pp. 22-28, 2013. [6] R. Whitaker, “United Kingdom”, European Journal of Political Research, vol. 50, no. 7-8, pp. 1164-1174, 20110. [7] R. Vaughan, “Energy in the United Kingdom”, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, vol. 212, no. 6, p. 389, 2008. [8] A, Hast, “Green energy products in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Finland”, EPJ Web of Conferences, vol. 79, no. 1, p. 4002, 2014. Read More