NEWS - HE NEWS

Leading universities back Environment Agency’s call for investment in climate change solutions

Published on 10 November 2009

Responding to Lord Smith’s keynote speech at the Environment Agency Annual Conference today, Paul Marshall, Executive Director of the 1994 Group of leading research-intensive universities said:

“We welcome the Environment Agency’s recognition of the essential role of our world-class universities and academics in discovering solutions for climate change and in the development of innovative green technologies.”

“The 1994 Group strongly support Lord Smith’s call for ‘more investment in the training, development and research capacity that will produce the people and ideas that we need to combat climate change’. With the necessary investment our leading universities and world-renowned researchers are ready to answer his call.”

“We look forward to examining his proposal for a match-funded ‘climate change fund’ to support research into environmental solutions. Investment in environmental research will not only support the fight against climate change but also boost innovative green industries – an important and growing sector of our economy”

“Lord Smith rightly calls for more scientists and engineers, however to find sustainable solutions to climate change support for a multidisciplinary approach is required, bringing together leading scientists and engineers with social scientists, geographers and designers. Technological approaches must be balanced with research on new business models and the sociology of consumption. Engineers may develop eco-friendly cars but social scientists know whether people will be prepared to drive them.”

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Notes to Editors

1. The 1994 Group represents 19 of UK’s leading research-intensive universities. It was established in 1994 to promote excellence in University research and teaching. www.1994group.ac.uk.1994 Group members include 10 of the top 18 universities in the UK in latest Guardian University Guide League Table.
2. 1994 Group universities are world leaders in environmental research.

The University of East Anglia (UEA) has produced the first comprehensive assessment of the relative merits of different geoengineering methods to cool the climate including nutrient fertilisation of the oceans, cloud seeding, sunshades in space, stratospheric aerosol injections and ocean pipes. UEA’s Low Carbon Innovation Centre is conducting the world’s first trial of a renewable heating oil that can be used in existing boilers.

Durham University’s Institute of Hazard and Risk Research is developing solutions to combat the hazards and risks associated with climate change. Researchers are investigating environmentally sustainable long-term energy policies, supporting earthquake hit areas, assisting with the reconstruction of tsunami devastated communities and examining global flood risks.

Researchers at the University of Bath are leading the SUPERGEN UK Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium which is examining the challenges associated with turning hydrogen into a commercial fuel source.

The University of Reading’s Walker Institute for Climate Systems Science is assessing the global impacts of climate change, particularly water resources, biodiversity, agriculture and the urban environment to help policymakers formulate national and global adaptation strategies. It is providing advice to governments on avoiding dangerous climate change by improving predictions of climate-related catastrophe. Scientists have developed new prediction methods to study how climate change will impact crops globally and how to cope by specifying new crop varieties.

3. The 1994 Group represents: University of Bath, Birkbeck University of London, Durham University, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University of Exeter, Goldsmiths University of London, Institute of Education University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, Lancaster University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Reading, University of St Andrews, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, University of York.
4. Press Enquiries please contact Alistair Jarvis, Director of Communications, 1994 Group. Tel: 0207 872 5596 / 07779 232731. Email: alistair.jarvis@1994group.co.uk