November 2011
10 November: 4CMR sponsored a visit from a PassivHaus team from Vienna, Austria to explore how PassivHaus methods can be used to improve the energy efficiency of the University estate. The discussion took place in the conference room of 4CMR and was by invitation. Part of it was filmed by the BBC.
January 2011
4CMR 2011
The first of the 2011 seminar series began on 25th January with a presentation by Tyndall Centre Manchester's Prof. Kevin Anderson. The presentation, entitled: "Going Beyond Dangerous: brutal numbers and tenuous hope: Exploring the void between reality and rhetoric on climate change mitigation". The presentation and discussion addressed complex issues related to the likelihood of meeting various targets for decarbonising the economy in the near future. If you would like to attend future events or find out more information about the seminar series, or other 4CMR events, contact...
December 2010
4CMR involved in COP16 Event
Informing China
4CMR staff presented a series of talks to visiting dignitaries from a variety of institutions and agencies in China. The most recent was to the Directors of the China Meteorological Administration.
The University of Cambridge and 4CMR have become a regularly scheduled "stop" for these visiting groups, who increasingly see 4CMR as a source of insights on climate change policy. The talks focused on links between climate change policies and sustainable development, informing the visitors on how the UK is tackling climate change and on the international negotiations.
In addition, 4CMR maintains
a strong research presence in China through the networks developed by
4CMR researchers Dabo Guan, Yongfu Huang and Jun Li.
John Ashton Presents Key Climate Issues to 4CMR
John Ashton, Special Representative for Climate Change at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), presented to 4CMR and specially invited guests, at the new 4CMR board room. His presentation examined the topic:
"Economic orthodoxy and barriers to the low-carbon economy."
The talk also covered issues as diverse as progress in Cancun, Chinese targets for low-carbon development, linkage of climate change negotiation with other issues (trade, energy security, development etc.) and the new economics arguments for the green new deal.
Professional Development Policy Seminar
On 15th November the Centre for Science and Policy and 4CMR presented a seminar to provide early career researchers with an introduction to how policy is made and the role of research and researchers in delivering policy expertise. The panel included:
- Professor David MacKay, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Energy and Climate Change;
- Dr Miles Parker, Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
- Dr Jo Dally, Head of Briefings, Government Office for Science;
- Dr Tim Chatterton, ESRC secondee to the Department of Energy and Climate Change;
- Dr Robert Sullivan, Head of Broadband Delivery, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills; and
- Professor Michael Kelly former Chief Scientific Adviser, Communities and Local Government.
Dabo Guan represented 4CMR in the AXA Talent Day on Environmental Risks at the AXA headquarters in Paris.
Zero Carbon Conference
The 2010 Zero Carbon Event on climate change and health included a keynote presentation by Doug Crawford Brown. For details of the event, whose coordination team included current and former members of 4CMR, visit...
Inside Government event on Environmental Efficiency
Paul Haynes chaired the Inside Government event on Environmental Efficiency discussing the move to a low carbon economy. The event, held on 9th November in London, brought together leading figures from academia, local government, and government, such as the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, presenting case studies, assessing policy instruments, strategy and legislation related to the transition to a low carbon economy for the UK.
Climate 2010 - online Conference
Between the 1-7th November Climate 2010 took place - the CO2-friendly Scientific On-line Climate Conference. The conference was an international collaboration between universities and research centres, including 4CMR. The aims of the conference included: introducing findings from scientific research on climate change and its links and impacts on water; introducing initiatives being undertaken by universities and scientific institutions, government bodies, national and international agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders; and discussing the problems, barriers, challenges and opportunities related to promoting the sustainable use of water resources worldwide.
4CMR met with DECC to examine E3 Modelling
September 2010
Paul Haynes presents E3MG to Business Leaders
The Climate Change Risk, Adaptation and Resilience event, organised by the Willis Research Network and LTN, was staged in the Willis Building on 29th September. Paul Haynes presented E3MG and explained its use in assessing policy scenarios.
Robin Hankin presents to British Antarctic Survey
On 21st September, Robin Hankin presented the paper The Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity to the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge. To find out more and read the abstract visit...
4CMR seminar series
The 4CMR internal seminar series for the summer began on 3rd August with Wang Hei Bruce Chong presenting a comparative analysis of de-carbonization transition in China's mega-cities. The seminar series was open to 4CMR members and those of partner organisations or by special invitation. For a full list of speakers and topics visit...July 2010
Defining Uncertainty in Climate Change Risk4CMR Members are IPCC Lead Authors
Dr. Yongfu Huang was selected to become a Lead Author for the 5th Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Yongfu’s role was with Working Group III, and focussed on risks, costs and benefits of different approaches to climate change mitigation. Dr. Dabo Guan was also appointed a Lead Author, having contributed to expert meetings on human settlement and infrastructure earlier in April 2010. These appointments follow the work of other members of 4CMR as Lead Authors or Coordinating Lead Authors for IPCC, most prominently, Dr. Terry Barker.
On 3 June, 4CMR sponsored members of the Climate Science and Policy team at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and the Environment Agency, who met with staff of University centres to discuss needs for policy-relevant research. The event identified areas of research and engagement needed to move forward the national agenda on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
During the week of 14 June, 4CMR sponsored Dr. Jason West of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. West worked with 4CMR staff on the topic of incorporating secondary benefits of greenhouse gas emissions reductions on other air pollutants and on human health. His work follows from his leadership of a UN Long Range Transport of Atmospheric Pollutants writing panel.
Dr. Doug Crawford Brown was appointed the Executive Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR). Doug joined the Centre in April 2010 and will add depth to 4CMR’s research in the areas of risk assessment, environmental policy and epistemic analysis of science in environmental policy. He was, until recently Professor in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and in Public Policy, and Director of the Institute for the Environment, at the University of North Carolina.
Lecture: Evidence Based Policy Making: how can government be an intelligent user of science?
Dr. Miles Parker, deputy chief scientific advisor in DEFRA, presented a talk on the topic of Evidence Based Policy Making: how can government be an intelligent user of science? The event was coordinated in collaboration between Darwin College Green Committee, 4CMR and the Centre for Science and Policy, and attracted over 120 attendees.
April 2010
Dabo Guan attended the IPCC Expert Meeting on Human Settlements and Infrastructure on 20-22 April 2010 in Calcutta (Kolkata) India. The aim of the meeting was to identify existing research, and opportunities for new research, which would be included in the IPCC’s 5th Assessment Report.
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