3 December, Met Office, Exeter
Understanding the Opportunities in
a Low Carbon Economy
The debate on climate change is moving from a
phase of scientific analysis to policy and business action. So what
will the future low carbon society look like? And what challenges
and opportunities will it bring?
The South West Science and Industry Council’s 5th annual Making
Science Work event, which took place on 3 December at the Met
Office in Exeter, was a step towards answering these questions and
building strategies for South West success in this emerging
landscape.
Speaking at the event, Professor Andrew Sentance, a member of the
Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee and Dr Chris Preist,
former Head of Sustainable IT Research at HP Labs, called on
companies to switch materials and production processes to greener,
more energy-efficient alternatives, as well as stressing the need
for entirely new high-tech solutions to be developed.
Robin Gallimore, Chair of the South West Science and Industry
Council, said:
"Controversial as it might sound, switching to become a low carbon
economy isn't just about saving the planet. In just a few years
time legislation will mean people and businesses are forced to
change their gas-guzzling, carbon-crunching ways. And that is where
real economic opportunities lie."
The conference is part of the Council's work to ensure the South
West leads the way into a new low carbon age.
The slides from the presentations given
at Making Science Work can be viewed in the Presentations section of this
website.
Videos of the presentations can be watched on the
Science
South West YouTube Channel.
Programme
- Facilitated by Jonathan Johns, former Head of Renewable Energy
at Ernst and Young
- Prof Andrew Sentance - Professor of Sustainable Business,
Warwick Business School and Member of the Bank of England Monetary
Policy Committee – Defining the “low carbon” challenge
- Demonstrations of cutting edge technologies developed in the
South West for a low carbon future
- 2 round table discussion sessions
- Dr Chris Preist – former Principle Scientist, HP European
Research Labs - New business opportunities in a low carbon
economy
- A half hour VIP tour of the MET office facility.