Following the broadcast of a Channel 4 investigation into “the true cost” of renewable energy generation, experts at a global sustainability body say it’s critical that consumers are confident that renewable energy really is “clean and green”.
Dispatches: The True Cost of Energy was screened on Channel 4 at 8pm on Monday 16th April. The documentary’s description states:
“Reporter Antony Barnett investigates a subsidised renewable energy industry that turns trees into fuel, and asks whether burning wood instead of coal is really an environmentally friendly answer to climate change. He travels to the forestlands of the south-eastern United States to find one source of this controversial ‘carbon-neutral’ fuel, and the biodiverse wetlands of Virginia and North Carolina, where millions of tonnes of wood are harvested and processed into pellets, which are burnt in one of Britain’s largest power stations.”
Martin Baxter, Chief Policy Advisor at global sustainability body IEMA said this morning that the broadcast is important in highlighting the need for renewable energy to be truly sustainable: “Meeting the energy needs of a constantly growing population in a clean and sustainable way is indisputably a complex challenge, and there’s certainly no silver bullet. It is vital that high environmental standards are used in tackling the challenge of climate change and making the transition to a low-carbon future,” said Baxter.
The UK is formally committed to reducing GHG and carbon emissions through the 2008 Climate Change Act and the 2015 Paris Accord. In meeting this challenge, reducing our total energy use is imperative and renewable energy schemes (however good) will always have some level of environmental impact. Key principles, important when claiming ‘carbon neutrality’ for renewable energy schemes are additionality, avoiding risks of double counting and ensuring sustainability of any associated resource management says Martin Baxter: “Government, Environment and Sustainably professionals and the media all have a role to play in explaining these complexities, helping the public to make informed decisions about their energy choices.”
IEMA members with energy management responsibilities can learn more about reducing emissions through energy and using the IEMA Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy - a policy guide to aid focus and priorities when making energy decisions – CLICK HERE.
Posted on 17th April 2018
Latest Posts
-
IEMA’s Chief Executive Officer Sarah Mukherjee responds to Environment Bill Delay
- 26th January 2021 -
Registered Environmental Practitioner registration now live
- 19th January 2021 -
Delivering pledges to net zero essential if Paris targets to be met
- 10th December 2020 -
IEMA reacts to recommendation from the Climate Change Committee for a 78% emissions reduction for the 6th carbon budget
- 9th December 2020 -
IEMA’s crucial role in preparing businesses for net zero transition
- 4th December 2020 -
IEMA reacts to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement – which risks undermining commitment to tackling the climate emergency
- 25th November 2020