Every degree matters | Drive to Net Zero Podcast 04

Drive to Net Zero

In this episode I explore what motivated Lord Deben into the world of sustainability, his work in the industry and his hopes and wishes for COP26 and the G7 in 2021. We explore topics on renewables, smart homes, emobility.

Guest:

Lord Deben is Chairman of the UK's independent Committee on Climate Change. He also chairs the sustainability consultancy Sancroft International and recycler Valpak. He is a trustee of climate change charity Cool Earth, alongside the ocean conservation charity, Blue Marine Foundation

As Environment Secretary he introduced the Environment Act 1995 and the Landfill Tax, which was the first such environmental tax in the UK. During this time, he also pursued environmental causes, introducing an Early Day Motion on global warming to Parliament. He was also instrumental in the passing of the Climate Change Act of 2008. The BBC Wildlife magazine described Lord Deben as the "Environment Secretary against which all others are judged". In 1997, he was also awarded the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Medal and was described by Friends of the Earth as "the best Environment Secretary we've ever had".

Topics discussed in this episode:

Power and Industry

1. In the lead up to COP26, are there any countries you believe are leading the green industrial revolution?
2. Government policy, is it in the right place now?
3. Do you believe the ‘grid’ is ready for a future of decentralised energy generation, both from the grid and the Prosumer?
4. Where do you believe industry now needs to focus to continue the improvement in this area of carbon reduction?
5. What are your thoughts around the adoption of renewable energy generation and storage? Is it as you’d expect to be, or do you feel we can accelerate deployment?

Decarbonising Transport
1. With EV’s on the road now totalling about 400,000 vs a 38 million ICE vehicles, why do you think progress has been relatively slow in EV adoption?
2. What can be done to accelerate EV adoption?
3. How do you think transport will evolve over the next 10 years? Compact Mobility / Air mobility / automated driving?
4. What do you believe are the main opportunities and challenges are for electric vehicles?
5. Fuel tax on internal combustion engine cars has been a valuable source of income for the government, how do we feel they will recoup this revenue as the mass market migrates to electric?

Building Net Zero Homes

1. How do you think housebuilders and developers have embraced the concept of smart homes & buildings in general?
2. How does the role of central and local government differ in the smart home of the future, what are the areas to consider to ensure success?
3. What type of technology should we be looking at to decarbonise homes and does this differ between old and new dwellings?
4. Are we ready for a more complex network with things such as bi-directional power flow and 3 phase supply in the home?
5. Does hydrogen have a role to play in decarbonising the home of the future?


Additional resources:

• The Schneider electric emobility web pages: - Evolution of Mobility Solutions: https://www.se.com/uk/en/work/solutions/for-business/automotive/evolution.jsp
• Smart Grid pages - https://www.se.com/uk/en/work/solutions/for-business/electric-utilities/
• Smart Homes pages - https://www.se.com/uk/en/home/partners/home-builders/