Research Briefing
Lima Climate Change Conference
The UNFCC conference on climate change will take place in Lima in December 2014. The aim is to agree a gloabl limit on emissions to be agreed in Paris in 2015 and implemented in 2020
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Research Briefing
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) generation is not yet proven on a large scale, and nor is storage long-term, despite a series of UK Government and EU initiatives aimed at incentivising its development. In March 2013 Peterhead (Aberdeenshire) and the White Rose Project (Yorkshire) were named as the two preferred bidders in the latest UK CCS Commercialisation Programme Competition.
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Research Briefing
Weathering a storm of extremes
Spring 2014 is expected to be the third warmest on record, beaten only by 2007 and 2011. After what has seemed like more than our fair share of extreme weather in the recent past – floods, storms, cold snaps etc. – the more temperate conditions this spring hardly seem to be record breaking or extreme.
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Research Briefing
The Green Deal
This paper describes the Government's Green Deal energy efficiency policy. The Government has since decided to stop funding the Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC) which was set up to lend money to Green Deal providers.
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Research Briefing
Nuclear power
On 21 October the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change announced that agreement had been reached with EDF to build the UK's first new nuclear power station since Sizewell B was commissioned in 1995.
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Research Briefing
Energy Bill 2013 – update for Report stage
The current Energy Bill now has its Report Stage scheduled, for 3 June 2013. This note provides an update to some of the more controversial areas, and to previous Library research briefings on the Bill.
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Research Briefing
Deepwater and Arctic oil drilling
This note outlines several examples of how previously inaccessible sources of hydrocarbons are now starting to be exploited, the regulatory regimes that surround this and the increasing controversy over drilling in the Arctic.
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Research Briefing
Antarctica: the treaty system and territorial claims
The unique treaty system that protects the Antarctic is constantly updated and sometimes challenged. A current Private Member’s Bill would implement recent changes in the UK.
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Research Briefing
EU ETS and Aviation
The aviation sector has been included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from 1 January 2012 as part of EU efforts to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020.
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Research Briefing
The draft Energy Bill 2012
The 2012 Queen’s Speech announced that "My Government will propose reform of the electricity market to deliver secure, clean and affordable electricity and ensure prices are fair”. This will be done through the latest in a line of Energy Bills, published in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny on 22 May 2012.
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Research Briefing
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is a mandatory carbon emissions reporting and trading scheme for large public and private sector organisations. It is currently under review and if it cannot be simplified to produce “very significant administrative savings” for businesses, then it will be replaced by “an alternative environmental tax” on which the Government will consult in Autumn 2012.
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Research Briefing
Agriculture and Climate Change
This note covers some predictions of the effect of climate change on UK agriculture and forestry
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Research Briefing
The ‘conservatory tax’
Changes to the building regulations are currently being consulted upon. These have led to press reports of a ‘conservatory tax’ of up to 10% on certain home improvements, through required associated energy efficiency measures. Reports have also said that people will be forced to take out green deal loans if they cannot afford to fund these improvements.
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Research Briefing
Feed-in Tariffs: Solar PV Review
This note summarises details of Solar PV feed-in tariffs, including the various reviews of tariffs for solar, the latest consultation published in February 2012, and the Government's defeat in the courts.
Total results (page 14 of 16)