Could more targets equal lower emissions?

The transition to a net zero economy will bring with it a vast array of impacts and opportunities that will reach across society.  But how do we ensure that negative impacts are minimised and opportunities are capitalised upon?  In this episode we find out:   The ways in which a shift to a low carbon society could boost the UK economy  What co-benefits mean and what implementing them could bring  If co-benefits could speed up change in combatting the climate crisis  Professor John Barrett speaks to Climate Evidence Unit expert Alice Garvey, and Head of Climate Services at the Met Office Professor Jason Lowe about turning climate action into an opportunity to build a more equal and prosperous nation.   See the underpinning research led by Professor Vera Trappmann here: https://justtransition.leeds.ac.uk Find out more about us here: https://climate.leeds.ac.uk/   

Our climate is changing around us and as we try to limit its impacts, we also need to adapt to the changes that will inevitably happen.  But there is also a lot of other change going on across the world simultaneously.  In this episode we look at the effects of those simultaneous changes and how that affects the public’s perceptions on the climate crisis.   We look at  How the public’s perceptions of climate change have changed over the last 10 years   People’s expectations of the government and what they should be doing  What schemes and systems are working   Climate Evidence Unit expert Professor Suraje Dessai and Director of Climate Action at The Wildlife Trusts Kathryn Brown join Professor John Barrett to explore what the UK public think about adapting to the impacts of climate change, and who should be taking the lead.  Take a look at the Climate Evidence Unit analysis: A public mandate for climate change adaptation in the UK

The Labour government has been in office for almost exactly a year.   There was a lot of promise before the election about the climate crisis, but are their manifesto promises coming to fruition?   In this episode we look at:  Shifts in funding, and how that affects their promises on meeting net zero  Why economic growth outweighs climate action in some areas  The drift in policy from climate to other areas  Why the climate crisis is not seen as a political driver  What’s to be done about changing perceptions in Westminster  Professor John Barrett is joined by Dr Sean McDaniel who has recently published a series on what to expect from the new Labour administration in relation to climate action. They are also joined by Holly Brazier Tope, Deputy Director of Politics at the influential think tank, Green Alliance, who offers personal insights into directly working with politicians on creating a compelling narrative to address the climate crisis.  Find out more about us here: https://climate.leeds.ac.uk/ 

We hear a lot about emissions targets when it comes to climate change – but are more of them needed and what effect do they actually have?  In this episode we discover:  What research shows us about how well emissions targets are working  If 'net zero' is a useful term for us still to be using How we involve the public more in climate decisions  Professor John Barrett is joined by Climate Evidence Unit expert Sam Betts-Davies, and Professor in Energy & Climate Governance at Lancaster University and adviser to the UK Climate Change Committee, Becky Willis, to discuss whether additional emissions targets could keep the UK on track to meet its climate commitments.  Read the Climate Evidence Unit report: Targets for effective climate mitigation governance in the UK